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ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS 


IN    ITS    EARLY   DAYS 


UNDER   THE 


FRENCH    AND    SPANISH 


DOMINATIONS 


COMPILED    BY 

FREDERIC   L.   BILLON 

FROM  AUTHENTIC   DATA 


ST.  LOUIS 
PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 

1886 


Entered  according:  to  Act  of  Cong:ress  In  the  year  1886,  by 

FREDERIC  L.  BILLON, 
In  t;.e  Otfice  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


PRISS  of  NiXON-JONfS  Printinq  Co., 

910  AND  ai3  Pmi  Street,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


PREFACE. 


To  M\  Readers  : 

It  has  been  frequently  urged  upon  me,  by  perhaps  too 
pa.'tial  friends,  that  ••  my  long  residence  of  exceeding  sixty 
years  in  the  place,"  (coming  here  when  it  was  yet  almost 
in  its  infancy,  when  there  were  yet  still  living  a  goodly 
number  of  it',  original  settlers,  with  many  of  whom,  from 
my  familiarity  with  their  language  and  customs,  being  de- 
scended from  the  same  nationality,  I  had  soon  become  on 
intimate  terms)  gave  me  facilities  not,  perhaps,  possessed 
by  any  other  one  to  the  same  extent,  to  prepare,  so  far  as 
it  could  be  done  with  the  scant  materials  at  command  for 
the  purpose,  what  had  long  been  a  desideratum  not  easily 
supplied,  viz.,  an  authentic  history  of  St.  Louis  during 
its  French  and  Spanish  days,  its  origin  and  progress. 

In  compliance  with  that  oft  preferred  request,  and  in  fur- 
therance of  my  own  views  on  the  subject,  I  submit  to  you, 
as  the  result  of  my  long  researches  and  investigations  in 
that  field,  the  following  pages,  with  the  simple  observation 
that  however  deficient  they  may  prove  as  a  literary  effort, 
they  will  at  least  possess  the  merit  of  authenticity  and  relia- 
bility ;  and,  I  flatter  myself,  will  establish  beyond  contro- 
versy many  facts  heretofore  vague  and  obscure,  connected 
with  the  early  history  of  our  place. 

I  am  v/ell  aware  of  the  difficulty  of  eradicating  from  the 
minds  of  the  majority  of    mankind    their   preconceived 

(Hi) 


It  pkepace. 

ideas,  however  erroneous,  upon  iiny  subject-mnttor  whatso 
ever  —  ideiiH  thnt  they  have  pcrhnps  imbibed  from  their 
childhood,  cominj?  down  to  them  with  the  authority  and 
prestige  of  parents  to  children,  partlcuhvrly  of  occurrences 
that  transpired  before  their  day,  and  which  have  reached 
them  through  tradition  alone,  with  its  manifold  errors  and 
exaggerations  ;  and  the  almost  useless  task  one  undertakes 
in  endeavoring  to  correct  these  erroneou:.  impressions. 
This  I  shall  not  endeavor  to  do,  but  will  simply  present  the 
facts  in  all  cases  as  I  found  them,  derived  from  the  original 
official  Sjjanish  and  French  documents,  most  of  them  trans- 
lated by  myself,  some  of  them  yet  in  the  archives,  and 
others  placed  in  my  possession  by  descendants  of  the  orig- 
inal participants  therein. 

Much  of  the  information  I  have  gathered  relating  to  St. 
Louis  I  have  obtained  froiu  certain  works  on  Illinois  and 
Indiana,  the  materials  for  a  reliable  history  of  the  early 
days  of  the  settlement  of  this  upper  country  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  now  Illinois,  Indiana,  etc.,  being  much 
more  abundant  and  authentic  than  those  of  this  side. 

From  the  time  the  English  received  possession  of  that 
side  in  1765,  during  the  thirteen  years  they  held  it,  and 
subsequently  when  taken  by  Clark  for  the  Virginians  in 
1778,  down  to  the  date  of  the  transfer  of  the  country  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river  to  the  United  States  in  1804,  a 
period  of  nearly  forty  years,  courts  had  been  established 
and  records  kept,  from  which  a  reliable,  although  but  a 
brief,  history  could  be  produced.  But  not  so  with  the 
country  on  this  side,  which  dates  its  settlement  only  from 
the  time  of  that  transfer  to  the   British,  and  to  which  cir 


PKEFACE.  V 

cumstancc  mainly  it  owes  ita  sudden  growth.  For  what- 
ever documents  there  might  have  been,  if  any,  in  the 
so-called  Spanish  archives  of  St.  Louis  of  a  political  or 
historical  nature,  calculated  to  furnish  materials  for  his- 
tory, were  carried  away  with  the  cannon  and  munitions  of 
war  at  the  evacuation  by  De  Lassus  in  1804.  As  Sy  the 
terms  of  the  treaty  of  purchase,  and  his  instruction)-  from 
the  governor-general  at  New  Orleans,  he  was  directed  to 
leave  only  such  papers  as  related  to  the  private  affairs  of 
individuals,  such  as  deeds,  concessions,  etc.,  affording  but 
little  information  of  a  historical  nature,  and  throwing  but 
little  light  upon  matters  of  public  interest,  consequently 
much  of  what  we  have  hitherto  regarded  as  history  of  those 
early  days  had  come  down  to  us  through  oral  tradition 
alone,  with  the  manifold  exaggerations  and  misstatements 
to  which  all  unrecorded  history  is  liable  in  transmission. 

Many  facts  connected  with  the  abandonment  of  Fort 
Chartres,  St.  Phillippe  and  Kaskaskia  have  been  brought  to 
light  in  works  on  these  two  States  and  Kentucky  that  can- 
not be  found  in  any  work  on  Upper  Louisiana. 

Major  Amos  Stoddard,  United  States  army,  was  the  first 
who  ever  wrote  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  sketch  of  St. 
Louis,  and  here  is  all  he  has  to  say  of  it  in  1804,  from  his 
own  observation :  — 

'•In  1764  St.  Louis  was  founded  by  Pierre  Laclede, 
Maxan  &  Co.,  as  a  trading  post.  In  1766  the  village  re- 
ceived an  accession  of  inhabitants  from  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  who  preferred  the  Spanish  to  the  English  gov- 
ernnient.  It  contains  about  180  houses,  the  best  of  them 
of  stone.     A  small   sloping  hill  extends  along  the  rear  of 


VI  I'ltEFACE. 

the  town,  on  the  Hiuntnit  of  which  is  ii  giiri'ison,  and  beyond 
it  i»  an  extensive  pmirio  which  iilFords  plenty  of  hay. 

••After  the  Indian  attack  on  St.  Louis  in  1780,  the  gov- 
ernment deemed  it  neconsary  to  fortify  the  town.  It  was 
immediately  stockaded  and  the  stone  bastion  and  the  demi- 
lune at  the  upper  end  of  it  were  constructed.  The  suc- 
ceeding peace  of  1783  lessened  the  danger  and  the  works 
were  suspended.  In  1794,  the  garrison  on  the  hill  in  the 
rear  of  the  town  and  government  house  was  completed. 
In  1797,  when  an  unfriendly  visit  was  expected  from  Can- 
ada, four  stone  towers  were  erected  at  nearly  equal  dis- 
tances in  a  circular  direction  around  the  town,  as  also  a 
wooden  block  house  near  the  lower  end  of  it.  It  was  con- 
templated to  enclose  the  town  by  a  regular  chain  of  works, 
and  the  towers  were  intended  to  answer  the  purposes  of 
bastions.  But  as  the  times  grew  more  auspicious  the  de- 
sign was  abandoned,  and  the  works  left  in  an  unfinished 
state." 

In  his  ♦'  Sketches  of  Louisiana,"  Phila.,  1812,  Stoddard 
says  in  his  preface  : 

•♦  It  fell  to  my  lot  in  the  month  of  March,  1804,  to 
take  possession  of  Upper  Louisiana  under  the  treaty 
of  cession.  »  *  *  The  records  and  other  public 
documents  were  open  to  my  inspection  ;  and,  as  it  was 
my  fortune  to  be  stationed  about  five  years  on  various 
parts  of  the  Lower  Mississippi,  and  nearly  six  months  on 
Red  river,  ray  inquiries  gradually  extended  to  Louisiana 
in  general. 

*'  That  country,  even  at  that  day,  was  less  known  than  any 
other  ( inhabited  by  a  civilized  people ) ,  of  the  same  extent  on 


PRRFAOB.  Vii 

the  globe.  While  it  was  in  possosHion  of  France  and  Spain, 
at  least  till  near  the  close  of  the  American  Kovolution,  it  was 
almost  inaccoMsiblo  to  us;  nor  were  we  influenced  by  mo- 
tives of  interest  or  curiosity  to  visit  it.  The  entrance  of 
our  vessels  into  its  ports  was  cither  interdicted,  or  its  com- 
merce too  unimportant  to  incite  maritime  adventures,  and 
the  mountains  and  uninhabited  wilderness  on  our  frontiers 
presented  strong  barriers  to  enterprise  overland.  The 
Spanish  government,  in  particular,  was  always  actuated  by 
a  dark  and  intricate  policy;  it  was  careful  to  exclude 
strangers  from  its  dominions  *  •  *  No  wonder,  then, 
that  Louisiana  at  the  time  of  the  cession  was  so  little 
known  to  the  United  States  *  *  *  I,  therefore,  in- 
dulge the  hope  that  my  sketches,  however  imperfect  may 
not  prove  unacceptable,  particularly  as  no  one  before  me, 
to  my  knowledge,  has  attempted  an  history  and  description 
of  this  territory. 

Amos  Stoddard., 

Major  U.  8.  Artillery.''^ 
•'  Fort  Columbus,  1812. 

Stoddard  further  says:  '*  The  causes  that  led  the  Ameri- 
cans to  cross  from  the  east  to  the  west  side,  were:  First,  the 
Ordinance  of  1787,  accepting  by  the  United  States  the  coun- 
try on  the  east  side  from  Virginia,  which  prohibited  slavery  ; 
and  secondly,  the  rupture  of  1797,  vhen  an  attack  from 
Canada  was  apprehended  on  the  Spanish  possessions  of  the 
Mississippi,  to  strengthen  which  they  held  out  inducements 
to  the  Americans  to  come  over  and  settle." 


1  Stoddard  was  In  the  United  States  Army  from  1794  to  his  death  In 
1814,  twenty  years. 


•  •• 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

The  incidonts  narrated  in  theae  pages,  are  derived  largely 
from  original  manuscripts  of  the  day,  all  in  the  French  and 
Spanish  languages:  the  French  being  that  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  country,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  descendants 
of  that  nationality,  and  the  Spanish,  the  official  language  of 
the  government  from  the  year  1770.  For  the  use  of 
many  of  these  documents  I  am  indebted  to  my  friend 
Augustus  DeLassus.the  only  son  of  the  last  of  the  Spanish 
lieutenant-governors  of  this  upper  portion  of  Louisiana, 
residing,  as  he  has  for  many  years  past,  in  St.  Francois 
County,  who  sent  me  a  large  mass  of  his  father's  official 
and  private  papers;  to  my  old  friend  G.  S.  Chouteau,  the 
last  sui-viving  son  of  the  original  Col.  Augte.  Chouteau,  who 
had  much  to  do  with  the  founding  of  the  place,  and  who 
lived  with  us  a  period  of  sixty-five  years  until  his  death  in 
1829,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-nine;  to  Dr.  Charles 
Gratiot  and  sister,  of  Cheltenham,  in  this  city,  grand  chil- 
dren of  the  first  Charles  Gratiot,  a  prominent  personage  of 
the  little  village  from  the  year  1780  until  his  death  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years  in  1817,  and  others  to  whom  I  am 
largely  indebted  for  the  invaluable  aid  I  derived  from  the 
use  of  their  documents. 

Fked'c  L.  Billon. 
St.  Louis,  1886. 


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INTRODUCTORY  CHRONOLOGY. 


DISCOVERY  AND  DESCENT  OP  TFIE  MTSSISSim  RIVER. 

{From  Father  Marquette's  Journal,  iniblislied  hy 
Thevenot,  Paris,  1082.) 

Prior  to  the  year  16G8,  Michilimackinac  was  the 
extreme  point  of  trade  of  the  Canadians  with  the  In- 
dian tribes  of  the  ;N"orthwest.  In  that  year  tlie 
Jesuit  Missionaries,  Fathers  Claude  Allouez,  Claude 
Dablon  and  James  Marquette,  reached  the  western 
extremity  of  Lake  Superior. 

1673,  May  13th.  —  The  Sieur  Joliet  of  Quebec,  a 
Canadian  trader,  and  Father  Marquette,  a  missionary 
priest,  with  five  French  hands,  seven  in  the  party, 
embarked  in  two  bark  canoes  at  Mackinaw,  to  seek 
the  great  river  of  the  west,  of  which  they  had  fre- 
quently heard  throug'h  the  Indians  of  that  region. 
The  first  nation  they  met  was  the  Folic  Avoines 
(Menominees) .  They  next  arrived  at  the  Pottawato- 
niies  at  Green  Bay.  Entering  Fox  River  they  arrived 
on  June  7th  at  the  villages  of  the  Maskouteiis  and 
Miamies.  June  10th,  taking  with  them  two  Indian 
guides,  they  ascended  the  Fox  Kiver,  crossed  the 
portage  of  one  and  a  half  miles,  carrying  their  canoes, 

(1) 


2  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

which  thoy  louiichedin  the  Meskonsiiig  (Ouisconsin), 
dismissed  their  guides  and  descended  that  river. 

June  17th,  they  entered  the  Mis8i8sii)pi  River  at 
about  the  forty-second  degree  of  north  latitude,  and 
commenced  its  descent.  25th.  Found  tracks  of  men 
which  led  to  their  village,  two  leagues  inland ;  they 
were  of  the  Indians  called  the  Illinois. 

Passed  the  mouth  of  the  Pekitanoui  (Missouri)  on 
their  right,  then  the  Ouabouskigou  (Ouabache) ,  In- 
dian name  of  the  Ohio,  coming  in  from  the  east  in 
latitude  north  about  thirty-six.  Below  here  they  met 
Indians,  the  Chicachas  (Chicasaws),  descended  to 
near  the  thirty-thii-d  degree  and  passed  on  their  right 
the  village  of  the  Michigamias,  and  ten  leagues  be 
low  the  large  village  called  Akamsca  (Arkansas) . 

Here,  being  within  one  and  a  half  degrees,  or  two 
or  three  days'  journey  to  the  Gulf  of  Florida,  after 
a  day's  rest,  they  left  this  village  of  Akamsca  on 
July  17th,  on  their  return  up  the  Mississippi,  being 
one  month  in  descending  that  river  from  the  forty- 
second  degree  to  below  tho  thirty- fourth.  On  arriv- 
ing at  the  thirty-ninth  degree  they  left  the  Mississippi 
to  enter  another  river  of  the  east  side  (the  Illinois) 
which  shortened  their  return  to  the  lake  of  the  Illi- 
nois Indians  (Lake  Michigan),  and  reached  Green 
Bay  at  the  close  of  September,  having  been  over  four 
months  on  their  voyage. 


INTRODUCTORY  CHRONOLOGY.  8 

1675,  May  13.  —  Louis,  the  fourteenth  king'  of 
France,  made  to  Robert  (Javalier  de  La  Salle  a  grant 
of  lands  at  Frontenac,  Canada. 

1678,  May  12.  —  Another  grant  from  the  king, 
confirming  and  extending  the  first,  with  instructions 
to  prosecute  the  discoveries  in  New  France  —  the 
name  given  the  countiy  on  the  Mississippi. 

1681,  December.  —  La  Salle  and  Lieut.  Tonty  left 
Chekagou,  on  Lake  Michigan,  with  twenty-two 
Fi-enchmen  and  eighteen  Indians,  Hurons,  etc., 
descended  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  and  on 
April  6,  1682,  arrived  at  the  three  outlets  of  the 
river  into  the  Gulf,  and  having  selected  a  suitable 
spot  they,  on  the  9th,  planted  a  column  with  a  cross 
l)earing  the  Arms  of  France  and  this  inscription  : 

LOUIS  THE  GRAND, 

KING  OF  FRANCE  AND  NAVARRE. 

ArRiL  0,  1682. 

The  Te  Deum,  Exaudiat  and  the  Domine  Salvuni 
fac  Begem  were  chanted  by  the  whole  party,  and  after 
a  salute  of  fire-arms  and  shouts  of  "  Long  live  the 
king,"  M.  de  La  Salle  delivered  an  address  and  pro- 
claimed the  country  taken  possession  of  in  the  name 
of  the  king  of  France,  and  then  buried  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross  a  metallic  plate  on  which  was  engraved  the 
arms  of  France  and  an  appropriate  inscription. 


4  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

A  vei'bul  process  was  di'awn  up  by  Jacques  La 
Metairie,  and  signatures  atKxed :  — 

De  La  Salle, 

Father  Zenol)!)  Meinbro,  recollet  missionary, 

Henri  de  Tonty, 

Francois  de  Boisrondet, 

Jean  Bourdon, 

Sieur  d'Autray, 

Jacques  Caucliois, 

Pierre  You, 

Gilles  Meucret, 

Jean  Michel,  surgeon, 

Jean  Mas, 

Jean  Dulignon, 

Nicholas  De  La  Salle, 

La  Metairie,  notary. 

16S3.  —  Further  instructions  were  issued  to  La  Salle 
to  open  a  communication  to  Xew  France  by  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico. 

FROM  CAPT.  d' Iberville's  report,  july  3,  1699. 

1698,  Oct.  lii.  —  M.  Capt.  d'  Iberville  sailed  from 
Brest  in  his  flagship  "La  Badine,"  with  the  fri^^ate 
"  Le  Marin,"  Capt.  de  Suriiceres,  to  take  possession 
of  Louisiana,  cast  anchor  at  the  Chandeleur  Islands 
early  in  February,  1699,  and  on  the  21st,  with  his 
brothers,  Sauvolle  and  Bienville  and  others,  and 
fifty-three  men,  left  the  vessels  in  two  boats  and 
some  canoes,  found  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi, 
and   entered    the  river  on  March  2d,  which  he  as- 


INTRODUCTORY  CHRONOLOGY.  5 

ceiidud  u.H  i'jir  up  Jis  the  Natchez  tribe  of  Indians, 
then  returned  down  the  river  to  the  Bayou  ^[anchac. 
Here  leaving  the  larg'e  boats  to  descend  the  river,  he 
passed  in  a  canoe  throug-h  the  Bayou,  the  Aniitie 
River  and  the  lakes  Maurepas,  Pontchartrain  and 
Borgne,  which  he  so  named,  and  reached  his  ships 
on  the  31st. 

l099,  April  —  Commenced  the  erection  of  a  fort 
(Maurepas)  at  Biloxi,  on  the  main  land,  and  on  its 
completion  he  sailed  for  France  May  3,  1G91),  leav- 
ing M.  De  Sauvolle  in  command  with  Lieut.  De  Bien- 
ville of  the  navy,  a  chaplain,  a  major,  two  captains, 
two  cannoniors,  four  sailors,  eighteen  filil)uster8,  ten 
mechanics,  six  masons,  thirteen  Canadians  and 
twenty  sub-ofticers  and  privates  —  eighty  in  all  —  to 
commence  the  colony. 

1699,  December  7.  —  The  second  arrival  of  Iber- 
ville from  France.  Sauvolle  had  been  appointed  by 
the  king  the  first  governor  of  Louisiana. 

1700,  Jan.  17.  —  Iberville  and  Bienville  went  up 
the  Mississippi  and  selected  a  site  for  a  fort  fifty-four 
miles  from  the  mouth.  On  May  3d,  Iberville  sailed 
again  for  France. 

1701,  July  22. —  Death  of  Sauvolle,  the  first 
governor. 

1702,  March  18.  —  Capt.  Iberville's  third  arrival 
with  two  ships  from  France  and  return  there  in  June. 


0  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

1703.  —  War  (U'cliired  between  Great  Britain  and 
France  and  Spain.  Au<^uHt  15,  arrival  of  Chatean- 
^uay,  another  brother  of  Bienville. 

1707.  —  Death  of  Iberville  at  San  Domingo. 
Bienville  acting  governor  ad  interim. 

1708.  —  Poi)ulation  279  Fi-ench  and  60  Canadians. 

1712,  Sept.  14.  —  The  king  granted  to  M.  Crozat 
a  charter  of  the  colony. 

1713,  May  17.  —  Arrival  of  Laniothe  Cadillac, 
new  governor  for  Crozat. 

1710.  —  Recall  of  Cadillac  and  resumption  by 
Bienville. 

1717,  March  0.  —  Arrival  of  the  new  governor  M. 
De  L'  Epinay.  August  13,  Crozat  surrendered  his 
charter  to  the  King,  and  Jno.  Laws'  India  Company 
was  established  to  succeed  him  in  the  proprietorship. 

1718.  —  De  I'  Epinay  recalled  to  France  and  Bien- 
ville reappointed  governor ;  Bienville  selected  a  site 
for  a  new  capital  on  the  Mississippi,  and  New 
Orleans  was  commenced. 

1723.  —  Seat  of  government  transferred  to  the 
new  city  New  Orleans. 

1724,  Jan.  16.  —  Gov.  Bienville  was  called  to 
France ;  he  sailed  in 

1725  —  And  Boisbriant  succeeded  him  ad  interim. 
1726,  Aug.  9.  —  M.  Perier  appointed  governor. 
1731,  Jan.  23.  —  The  India  Company  surrendered 
their  charter  to  the  king. 


INTRODUCTORY  CHRONOLOGY.  7 

1733.  —  Gov.  Bienville  reuppointud  uiid  returned 
after  eight  years'  abwence. 

1742.  —  Gov.  Bienville  requested  to  be  recalled. 

1743,  May  10.  —  The  Marquis  De  Vaudreuil,  his 
successor,  arrived,  and  Bienville  left  the  country  for 
Franco  forever. 

1753.  —  The  Marquis  De  Vaudreuil  was  appointed 
governor-general  of  Canada.  February  9,  he  was 
succeeded  in  Louisiana  by  Capt.  Kerlerec  of  the 
navy. 

1760,  Dec.  21.  — The  fortifications  of  New  Or- 
leans were  completed. 

1762,  Nov.  3.  —  By  a  treaty  at  Fontainebleau 
Fi'ance  ceded  to  Spain  all  of  Louisiana,  which  was 
accepted  by  the  Spanish  king  November  13.  This 
treaty  was  kept  secret  for  a  time. 

1763,  Feb.  10.  —  Final  treaty  of  peace  at  Paris  be- 
tween France  and  Spain  and  Great  Britain,  by  which 
France  ceded  to  Great  Britain  all  her  possessions  east 
of  the  Mississippi  River  and  north  of  the  Iberville, 
which  excluded  the  Island  of  New  Orleans,  also 
her  pretensions  to  Nova  Scotia  and  the  Canadas, 
and  Spain  her  claims  to  Florida. 

All  North  America  then  belonged  only  to  Spain 
and  Great  Britain. 

Arrival  at  Pensacola  of  Mr.  George  Johnson,  the 
new  English  governor  of  Florida,  who  received  pos- 


8  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

session,  nccoiiipmiied  by  the  liritish  Major  Loftus  to 
ascend  the  Mississippi  und  take  command  of  the 
Illinois  country. 

June  29.  —  Arrival  at  New  Orleans  of  Mr. 
D'Abadie  from  Paris,  appointed  by  the  king  of 
France  Director  General,  to  relieve  Gov.  Kerlerec, 
ad  interim^  and  turn  over  tie  country  to  the  Spanish 
authorities  when  they  would  arrive  to  receive  it. 

In  October  the  British  Capt.  Farmer  was  in  pos- 
session of  Mobile,  and  Capt.  Ford  at  Tombeckbec. 

Capt.  Kerlerec  was  the  last  French  governor  of 
Louisiana,  which  he  had  been  for  the  ten  years 
preceding  the  arrival  of  Mr.  D'Abadie  in  June,  1763, 
when  Kerlerec  was  recalled  to  France  to  render  an 
account  of  the  mal-administration  of  the  affairs  of 
the  colony  under  his  governorship,  consequently  the 
license  to  Maxent,  Laclede  &  Co.,  to  establish  Indian 
trade  on  the  u])per  Missouri,  if  issued  in  1762,  as 
Chouteau  states  in  his  narrative,  came  from  Ker- 
lerec, the  then  governor,  and  not  from  D'Abadie, 
who  never  was  governor,  but  called  director-general, 
appointed  by  Louis  XV.  after  the  country  was  no 
longer  his  ovvii,  but  belonged  to  England  and  Spain, 
between  whom  he  had  divided  it,  consequently  could 
no  longer  appoint  a  governor  for  it. 

He  named  D'Abadie  "  director-general"  and  sent 
him  over  from  France  as  soon  as  he  had  parted  with 


INTRODUCTORY  CHRONOLOGY.  9 

the  country,  to  relieve  Kerlcruc,  gather  together  the 
French  troops  Hcattcred  at  the  variouH  posts  throtigh- 
out  the  country,  and  send  them  all  back  to  France 
l)iit  four  companies,  which  he  was  to  retain  with  him 
until  he  hIiouUI  turn  over  the  country  to  the  new 
owners  so  soon  as  they  would  ai'rive  to  receive  pos- 
H(!8sion.  This  the  English  did  without  delay,  they 
being  alrciidy  at  hand  in  Florida,  but  the  Spanish 
were  so  dilatory  in  the  matter  that  poor  D'Abadie 
was  compelled  to  remain  until  he  fell  a  victim  to  the 
effects  of  the  climate. 

Letter  of  Louis  XV.  to  Mr.  D'Abadie. 

{Frmn  State  Papers,  Vol.  17,  page  240)  :— 

"By  a  special  act  executed  at  Fontainebleau  November  13, 
17C2,  having  ceded  of  my  own  free  will  to  my  well  beloved 
cousin,  the  King  of  Si)ain,  and  to  his  successors  and  heirs,  with- 
out any  reservation,  all  the  country  known  under  the  mime  of 
LouiHiana,  including  New  Orleans,  and  the  island  on  which  that 
city  is  situated,  and  by  another  act  executed  at  the  Escunal, 
signed  by  tlic  King  of  Spain  the  13th  of  November  of  the  same 
year,  his  Catholic  Majesty  having  accepted  the  cession  of  the 
said  country  of  Louisiana  and  the  city  and  island  of  New  Orleans, 
in  conformity  with  the  said  cession  whicii  you  will  find  herewith, 
I  make  you  this  letter  to  say  to  you  that  my  intention  is  at  the 
receipt  of  the  present,  let  it  come  to  you  by  officers  of  his  Catho- 
lic Majesty,  or  directly  by  French  vessels  charged  with  it,  you 
will  at  once  place  in  the  bands  of  the  governor,  or  the  officer 
appointed  for  the  purpuse  by  the  King  of  Spain,  the  said  country 
and  colony  of  Louisiana  and  dependant  posts,  with  the  city  and 
island  of  New  Orleans,  as  it  was  on  the  day  of  the  cession,  so 
that  in  the  future  it  may  belong  to  his  Catholic  Majesty,  to  be 
governed  by  his  officers  as  belonging  to  him  in  full  right,  without 


10  ANNAL8  UF  8T.  LOUia 

any  ronurvation.  I  thcrvforo  direct  you,  titat  mo  aoon  an  the  Oov- 
ornor  and  troopH  of  IiIh  Catholic  MaJoHty  will  Imvc  arrived  in  Maid 
rolonicH,  you  will  phicu  tlicni  in  poHUfHHlr.  ],  and  wittidraw  all  the 
oftlours,  BoldicrH  and  cmployoH  in  luy  Hervice  thai  may  yut  be 
there  In  garrison,  to  be  aont  to  France,  or  to  my  other  colonieM  in 
America,  those  who  may  not  think  proi)er  to  remain  under  the 
Hpanisii  domination. 

"  I  desire  furtlier  that  after  the  complete  evacuation  of  said 
posts  and  city  of  New  Orleans,  you  gather  all  the  papers  and 
documents  relating  to  the  flnanceH  and  administriition  of  the 
colony  of  Louisiana  and  (tome  to  France  to  settle  them ;  my  in- 
tention is,  nevertheless,  that  you  liand  over  to  said  Governor,  or 
his  proper  olllcer,  all  the  papers  and  documents  that  especially 
concern  the  government  of  said  colony  in  relation  to  the  country 
and  its  boundaries,  to  llic  Indians  and  various  posts,  talcing 
proper  receipt!  for  them  for  your  safety  ;  and  that  you  give  said 
governor  all  the  information  in  your  power  to  enable  him  to  gov- 
ern said  colony  to  the  satisfaction  of  ids  Catholic  Majesty ;  to  the 
end  that  said  cession  be  reciprocally  satisfactory  to  the  two 
nations ;  my  will  is  that  an  inventory  be  made  in  duplicate  be- 
tween you  and  the  commissioner  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  >f  all 
artillery,  arms,  munitions,  effects,  stores,  buildings,  vessels,  etc., 
which  l)elong  to  me  in  said  colony,  and  duly  appraised,  so  that 
after  having  put  the  S[)anish  commissioner  in  possession  of  the 
buildings,  etc.,  an  appraisement  be  made  of  the  value  of  what 
may  be  left  to  be  paid  for  by  his  Catholic  Majesty. 

"  I  hope,  for  the  advantage  and  tranquillity  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  colony  of  Louisiana,  and  I  promise  in  consequence  of  the 
friendship  and  affection  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  that  he  will  give 
orders  to  his  Governor,  and  all  others  in  his  service  in  said  city 
and  colony,  that  the  clergy  and  religious  establishments  who  de- 
serve protection,  may  continue  their  functions,  and  enjoy  the 
rights,  privileges  and  exceptions  now  enjoyed  by  them ;  that  the 
civil  magistrates  be  continued,  as  also  the  Superior  Council,  to 
render  Justice  according  to  the  laws,  forms  and  usages  of  the 
colony,  that  the  inhabitants  be  protected  and  maintained  in  their 
possessions,  and  their  lands  be  confirmed  according  to  the  con- 
cessions that  have  been  made  them  by  the  former  governors,  etc., 


INTRODUCTOKY  fHKONOLOOV.  11 

of  the  colony — that  nadl  conocMiilonit  be  ooDtlrmcd  hy  IiIh  Catlio* 
lie  Mftjcuty,  nltlioiigli  tht^y  Imvc  not  yt't  lifon  no  hy  inynclf,  lio|>- 
Ing  abov(>  nil  tliiiif^n  Unit  liU  Cntlu^lic  MiiJ<>8ty  will  ^Ivo  to  liU  n«>w 
■iibjects  of  l^oiiiHinnit  the  sumc  niurkx  of  ({ood  will  ami  protcetino 
that  they  had  found  under  my  <lominatlon,  and  which  the  tninfor* 
tuncfi  of  war  alone  prevented  thoin  enjoying  to  a  greater  extent. 

"  Yoi  will  have  these  lettern  made  of  record  in  the  Superior 
Council  Ok  \ew  OrleauH,  bo  that  the  various*  districts  of  the  colony 
be  infonned  of  it«  contents,  and  if  necessary  can  have  recourse 
to  them,  havin>{  no  other  object. 

"  I  pray  (Jod,  Mr.  D'Abadio,  to  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 
"  [Signed]  "  Loris, 

"The  Dfc  vk  Ciioiskul." 

"  ViHSAii.LKs,  April  21,  1764." 


CONORVSATTON   OF   PRECEDiyO    FACTS. 

In  1702,  ^[iixi'nt,  Laclede  &  C/O.,  incrchantH  at 
N^ew  Orleans,  obtained  from  Gov.  Kerleret;  a  license 
to  trade  with  the  IndianH  on  the  Ui)per  MinHissipi)! 
and  MisHonri,  and  commenced  making-  their  pivpara- 
tions  for  that  trade  by  procniing  their  goods  from 
Cuba  at  once. 

On  November  13  of  that  year,  1762,  Fi-ance  ceded 
to  Spain  by  a  secret  treaty  at  Fontainebleau  all  her 
possessions  on  the  Mississippi  Itiver,  and  by  another 
treaty  at  Paris,  Fel)ruary  10,  1763,  Fi-ance  an<l  Spain 
conjointly  conceded  to  Great  Britain  all  the  country 
on  the  east  bank  with  the  Canadas. 

1763.  —  The  king  of  France  then  appointed 
Mons.  D'Abadie,  not  to  be  governor  but  director- 
general,  to   come   over  to   Louisiana    relieve   Gov. 


12  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Kt'rlt'i'cc,  who  was  recalled  to  Pi-iance  to  give  an 
account  of  hiisteii  years'  admini.stratioii,  to  collect  the 
French  tro()i).s  in  Louisiana  at  New  Orleans,  to  be  sent 
to  France,  all  but  four  conipaii'^s,  and  to  renuiin  there 
in  charge  ad  interim,  until  the  S[)anish  should  arrive 
to  receive  possession  of  the  country.  K  D'Abadie 
arrived  in  New  Orleans  June  29th,  five  ks  before 
Laclede's  dei>arture  for  the  Upper  Missi.  pi  on  Au- 
gust 3,  1703.  Of  course  the  fact  of  the  session  of 
the  country  to  Spain  could  hardly  have  been  a  secret 
then,  although  the  king's  ofHcial  letter  proclaiming 
the  cession  Avas  not  promulgated  until  the  following 
year,  17G4.  Consequently,  when  Laclede  arrived 
and  established  hiuiself  here,  the  country  no  longer 
belonged  to  France,  and  he  was  in  some  sense,  per- 
haps unwittingly,  a  ti'espasser  on  the  soil  of  another 
sovereignty,  as  were  also  all  those  who  followed  him 
from  the  other  side,  until  after  the  establishment  of 
the  Spanish  authority  ;  they  became  subjects  of  that 
power  by  remaining  in  the  countr}'  ond  taking  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  new  authorities. 

And  here  let  us  take  a  retrospective  glance  and 
look  back  in  our  history  to  some  of  the  remote  causes 
that  led  to  the  cession  of  the  Louisianas  to  Spain 
and  England.  "\Ve  gather  from  Charles  Gayarre's 
works  on  Louisiana,  that  down  to  the  treaty  of  ces- 
sion to  Spain,  N^ovember  3,  1762,  the  long  continued 
efforts  of  France  to  colonize  the  lower  province,  so 


INTRODUCTOUY  CHKONOLOOY.  18 

far  from  provin^j;'  a  8oiirce  of  groat  i-evonue  to  the 
French  exchequer,  as  had  heen  fondly  anticipated 
from  the  exaggerated  niisi-epresentatiouH  of  ita  early 
enthusiastic  and  sanguine  ex[)lorers  of  the  unlimited 
richness  of  the  country,  even  in  the  precious  metals, 
etc.,  had  not  only  caused  the  hankruptcy  of  the  early 
companies  of  adventurers,  but  had  also  been  a  con- 
stant drain  on  the  finances  of  France,  to  so  gi'eat  an 
extent  that  she  herself  was  on  the  verge  of  hank- 
ruptcy and  Avould  willingly  have  parted  with  it  before 
this  period  had  she  known  in  what  manner  to  get  rid 
of  it. 

The  treaty  between  the  three  [)owers  which  put  an 
end  to  the  seven  years'  war,  afforded  the  French 
king  an  excellent  occasion  to  part  with  his  "ele- 
phant," by  generously  bestowing  it  upon  his  royal 
cousin  of  Spain,  who,  it  appears,  not  appreciating  it 
so  highly  as  the  generous  donor  of  the  princely  gift, 
was  in  no  huny  to  take  immediate  possession  of  it, 
as  he  suffered  seven  years  to  elapse  before  he  sent 
O'Reilly  to  enforce  his  authority  in  his  new 
acquisition. 

1763,  Aug.  3.  —  Laclede  left  !New  Orleans  with 
his  boat,  arrived  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  and  i)roceeded 
on  to  Fort  Chartres  where  he  ai'rived  November  3. 
In  December  with  a  small  [)Mrty  he  proceeded  by  land 
as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri  lliver,  selected 


14  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

and  inai'kod  the  spot  for  his  trtidhig-  post  and  returned 
to  Fort  Chartres,  where  he  passed  the  winter  of 
1703-61,  awaiting  the  opening  of  the  river  in  the 
8[)ring  to  come  up  and  establish  his  new  trading  post 
at  the  point  selected.  During  I'ms  period  orders  were 
received  by  Lieut.-Gov.  Neyon  de  Villiers,  the  French 
commandant  at  that  fort,  from  Mr.  D' Abadie  at  New 
Oi'leans  to  "collect  his  men  together  from  the  few 
Fi-ench  posts  then  in  this  upi)er  country,  turn  over 
possession  to  the  British,  then  daily  expected,  when 
they  should  appear,  and  with  his  men  come  down  to 
New  Orleans." 

The  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  transfer  to  Great 
Britain,  produced  great  excitement  and  indignation 
in  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Upper  Illinois. 
To  be  thus  transferred  body  and  soul,  without  their 
consent,  and  compelled  to  live  as  the  subjects  of  a 
nation  that  for  long  ages  back  they  had  regarded  in 
the  light  of  hereditary  enemies  and  heretics  in  religion, 
was  an  outrage  on  their  feelings  not  to  be  silently 
acquiesced  in.  So,  as  in  the  case  of  their  fellow- 
countrymcni  below,  they  gave  free  expression  to  their 
discontent  and  disgust,  many  resolving  not  to  remain 
in  the  country. 

From  this  circumstance  Laclede  imbibed  the  idea 
of  establishing  a  village  immediately  around  his  con- 
templated "trading  post,"  and  cordially  invited  all 


INTRODUCTOUY  CHRONOLOGY.  16 

those  dissatisfied  with  the  transfer  of  that  sice  of  the 
country  to  the  British,  to  come  over  with  him  and 
estabUsh  themselves  on  this  side.  Hence,  the  aLnost 
immediate  springin*^  iij)  of  the  new  village. 

(In  the  meantime  the  British  being  detained  by  mi- 
foreseen  circumstances,  from  ap[)earing  at  Fort  Char- 
tres  as  early  as  expected,  to  be  placed  in  possession, 
De  Villiers,  disgusted  with  the  turn  in  affairs,  became 
impatient  to  be  gone.  So  after  waiting  until  the  15th 
of  June,  and  still  no  appearance  of  the  British,  his 
patience  being  completely  exhausted,  he  left  on  that 
day  and  arrived  at  New  Orleans  on  July  2d,  with  six 
officers  and  sixty-three  men  in  his  command  —  sev- 
enty in  all  —  accompanied  by  eighty  inhabitants,  in- 
cluding women  and  children,  whom  he  had  induced 
to  go  below  with  assurances  that  they  would  receive 
land  there  from  the  authorities  in  lieu  of  that  they 
had  abandoned  up  here. 

He  loft  at  Fort  Chartres  Capt.  St.  Ange  De  Belle- 
rive  with  some  twenty  officers  and  men  expecting  to 
follow  him  in  a  few  days,  but  who  were  detained 
there  for  sixteen  months  longer.  The  British  High- 
landers, inider  Capt.  Sterling,  finally  reaching  there, 
October  10,  ]7G5,  when  Capt.  St.  Ange  delivered  him 
possession  of  the  fort,  and  with  it  the  countiy,  and 
crossed  over  to  St.  Louis,  then  all  life  and  bustle  in 
building  up.) 


16  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Oil  the  opening  of  navigation  in  the  spring,  La- 
clede dispatched  his  boat  in  charge  of  Chouteau,  on 
which  were  thirty  men  and  boys,  with  the  following 
instructions  to  C. :  "You  will  proceed  and  land 
where  we  marked  the  trees,  commence  to  have  the 
place  cleared,  build  a  large  shed  to  protect  the  pro- 
visions and  tools,  and  some  cabins  to  shelter  the  men. 
I  give  you  two  men  on  whom  you  can  depend  to  aid 
you,  and  I  will  join  you  before  long." 

Chouteau  then  proceeds:  "I  landed  at  the  place 
designated  on  the  l^tth  of  March,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  next  day  (March  15th)  I  put  the  men  to 
work." 


ANNALS    OF    ST.  LOUIS. 


PART  FIRST. 


THE  FRENCH  DOMINATION. 

1764-1770. 


I  commence  these  Annals  with  the  names  of  those 
thirty  wortliies  wlio,  conducted  by  Laclede,  were  the 
pioneers  that  led  the  way  in  opening  up  to  settle- 
ment a  boundless  territory  then  inhabited  but  by  a 
few  roving  savages  and  the  Avild  animals  of  the  for- 
est, but  now  after  a  lapse  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
years  the  flourishing  homes  of  so  many  thousands  of 
happy  human  beings. 

I  head  the  list  with  the  name  of  — 

Antoiiie  Riviere,  Sr. ,  the  patriarch  of  the  colony,  who  born  in 
1706,  was  fifty-eight  years  of  ago  iu  17G4,  when  he  drove  up  tlie  cart 
with  Mrs.  Chouteau  and  children  from  Fort  Cliartres  to  Cahokia, 
and  died  at  St.  Ferdinand  iu  1816,  having  attained  the  age  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  years,  the  oldest  person  wo  have  any  knowledge 
of  to  that  day. 

August  Chouteau,  born  in  1750  was  fourteen  years  old,  and 
died  in  1829  at  seventy-nine  years  of  age. 

Joseph  Taillon,  miller,  born  in  1715  was  forty-nine  years  old, 
and  died  iu  1807  at  ninety-two  years  of  age. 

2  (17) 


18  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Roger  Taillon,  miller. 

Joseph    ISIaiiiville,  carpenter,  born   in    1740   was  twenty-four 
year;4  old,  and  died  in  1795  at  flfty-flve  years  of  a<je. 

Jno.  B.  Martigny,  trader,  born  in  1712  was  fifty-two  years  old, 
and  died  in  1792  at  eighty  years  of  age. 

Jos.  L.  Martigny. 

Nicholas  Beaugenou,  fanner,  born  in  1719  was  forty-five  years 
old,  and  died  in  1771  at  fifty-two  years  of  age. 

Alexis  Cott6,  farmer,  born  in  1743,  was  twenty-one  years  old. 

Gabriel   Dodier,  Jr.,  farmer,  born   in  1735  was  twenty-nine 
years  old,  and  died  in  1805  at  seventy  years  of  age. 

Jno.  B.  Hervieux,  gunsmith,  died  in  1775. 

Jno.  B.  Riviere,  boy,  born  in  1752  was  twelve  years  old. 

Rene  Kiersereau,  church  chorister,  born  in  1730  was  thirty- four 
years  old,  and  died  in  1798  at  sixty-nine  years  of  age. 

Alexis  Picard,  farmer,  born  in  1711  was  fifty-three  years  old, 
and  died  in  1781  at  seventy  years  of  age. 

Francis  Delin,  carpenter,  died  in  1781. 

Joseph  Labrosse,  trader,  died  in  1798. 

Theodore  Labrosse. 

Joseph  Chancellier,  farmer,  born  in  1750  was  fourteen  years 
old,  and  died  in  1784  at  thirty-four  years  of  age. 

Louis  Chancellier,  farmer,  born  in  1752  was  twelve  years  old, 
and  died  in  1785  at  thirty-three  years  of  age. 

Jno.  B.  Gamache,  farmer,  born  in  1733  was  thirty-one  years  old, 
and  died  in  1805  at  seventy-two  years  of  age. 

Louis  Ride,  farmer,  died  in  1787. 

Julien  Le  Roy,  trader. 

Jean  Salle  Lajoie,  trader,  born  in  1741  was  twenty-three  years 
old. 

Jno.  B.  Becquet,  blacksmith. 

Jno.  B.  Becquet,  miller. 

Antoine  Pothier,  trader. 

Antoine  Valliere  Picbet,  carpenter. 

Beauchamp,  farmer. 

Marcereau. 

Legrain,  died  in  1766. 

La  Garrosse. 


LACLEDE'S  ARUIVAL.  19 

Iinmcdiately  aftei*  Laclede  had  dispatclit'd  hia  boat 
with  Chouteau  and  party  froiu  Poi't  Chartres,  he  set 
out  from  there  by  hiiid  for  Cahokia,  bringing  with 
him  Mrs.  Chouteau  and  her  four  young  children  in  a 
French  cart  driven  by  Antoine  Riviei'e,  senior,  and 
escorted  by  Laclede  in  propria  persona,  as  body- 
guard, mounted  on  a  French  pony,  a  natural  pacer, 
a  peculiar  institution  of  those  primitive  days  in  these 
parts.  Chouteau  says  in  his  narrative:  "Early  in 
April  Laclede  came  over,  selected  the  spot  foi"  his 
house,  and  then  returned  to  Fort  Chai'tres  to  remove 
his  goods  from  there  to  Cahokia  before  the  English 
would  arrive  to  take  possession  of  the  country.  A 
party  of  Missoui'i  Indians  came  to  oui'  camp  to  beg 
and  steal ;  they  remained  about  fifteen  days,  Chou- 
teau employing  the  women  and  children  in  digging 
out  the  cellar  for  Laclede's  house,  carrying  out  the 
earth  in  wooden  platters  and  baskets  on  their  heads." 

The  sunnner  of  this  year  Laclede  spent  in  the  erec- 
tion of  his  temporary  buildings,  and  providing  for  his 
permanent  removal  to  this  side.  In  the  month  of 
September,  his  house  being  completed,  he  brought 
over  his  family  from  Cahokia,  where  they  had  spent 
the  summer,  and  established  himself  in  his  new  house, 
the  first  finished  on  the  place,  which  became  the 
nucleus  around  which  the  village  was  in  time  built 
up.  In  the  meantime,  Lticlede  had  been  busily  en- 
gaged in  preparing  and  laying  down  the  plan  of  his 


20  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

prospective  new  vil!a<^e,  and  in  assigning  lots  on 
which  to  build  their  houHCs  to  these  first  arrivals,  all 
of  whom  had  come  to  stay.  Their  selections  were 
generally  along  the  river  front  to  be  near  water,  as 
they  soon  ascertained  that  the  whole  place  was  under- 
laid by  a  deep  bed  of  lime  stone,  and  there  were  but 
few  springs  found. 

The  first  thirty  who  came  in  the  boat  with  Chou- 
teau were  followed  soon  after  (Laclede  had  taken 
possession  of  his  house  in  September)  by  some  six  or 
eight  more  the  same  fall  of  1764:.     They  were  — 

Gabriel  Decarry,  an  Indian  interpreter  from  Fort  Chartres. 
Michel  Rolette,  a  former  French  soldier  from  Fort  Chartres. 
Louis  Tesson  Honore,  a  trader  from  Kaskasitia. 
Jno.  B.  Cardinal,  a  farmer  from  St.  Phillippe. 
Louis  Deshetres,  from  Cahokia. 
Alexander  Langlois,  trader  from  Cahokia. 
Jean  B.  Provenclie,  wheelwvigiit  from  Cahokia. 
Rene  Buet,  trader  from  Cahokia. 

Making  a  total  of  about  forty  who  located  here  in  this 
first  year,  1764. 

As  was  the  case  with  all  the  other  villages  in  this 
western  region  at  that  early  day  of  our  history,  they 
originated  either  through  trading  posts  or  missionary 
establishments. 

In  the  following  year,  1765,  so  large  a  number 
came  over  from  the  east  side,  with  several  families 
from   Ste.  Genevieve   and  New  Orleans,  and  built 


8TE.  I'UILLIPPE.  21 

their  houses  on  lotn  assigned  them  verbally  hy  Ija- 
clede,  that  the  village  seemed  to  K[)ring  into  existence, 
as  it  were,  all  at  once,  in  this  a>id  the  following  year ; 
but  the  greatest  progress  in  building  ui>  the  village 
was  made  in  this  year.  Many  of  those  coming  over 
from  the  other  side  brought  with  them  not  only  all 
they  possessed  that  was  movable,  but  in  numerous 
instances  even  dismantling  their  houses  and  bringing 
the  doors  and  windows,  planking,  in  fact  everything 
that  could  be  removed,  leaving  but  the  logs  and 
chimneys. 

So  anxious  di<l  these  simple  people  seem  to  fly 
from  their  new  English  masters,  that  they  acted  as  if 
panic  stricken  in  their  haste  to  get  away.  The  little 
village  of  Ste.  Phillippe,  about  four  miles  north  of 
Fort  Chartres,  containing  some  ten  or  twelve  fami- 
lies was  completely  deserted,  all  but  one  family  leav- 
ing it  to  come  to  this  side,  and  he  owning  a  mill  and 
other  property  which  he  could  not  dispose  of,  was 
compelled  to  remain.  As  he  was  the  captain  of 
the  militia  of  the  village,  he  was  left  alone  in  all  his 
glory.  All  traces  of  the  village  have  long  since 
disappeared. 

The  three  first  and  most  essential  steps  to  be  taken 
by  each  new  comer  on  this  side,  were  : 

First.  To  procure  a  village  lot  and  put  up  a 
house  or  temporary  cabin  for  the  shelter  of  his 
family. 


22  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

Second.  To  provide  a  coinmons  for  the  joint 
sociirity  of  their  live  stock.  For  this  purport'  a 
largo  tract  of  laud  \y'iui^  Hoiithwost  of  the  new  vil- 
lage, well  timbered  and  watered,  with  good  pastur- 
age, was  set  a[)art,  and  a  portion  of  it  enclosed  at 
once  by  the  united  labor  of  those  to  be  benelitcMl  by 
the  use  of  it. 

Third.  To  set  aside  another  suitable  tract  for  cul- 
tivation as  coinuion  fields  the  next  year,  their  bread- 
stuffs  for  the  [)resent  year  l)eiug  brought  over  from 
the  other  side ;  this  common  field  tract  lay  north- 
west of  the  village,  the  land  in  that  direction  being 
better  adapted  for  cultivation,  and  largely  prairie 
land. 

The  settlement  was  called  for  some  time  "  La- 
clede's Village." 


The  cession  from  France  to  Spain  dates  from  Xo- 
vember  13,  17G2,  and  the  arrival  of  Count  Ulloa  at 
N'fc'W  Oi'leans,  to  receive  possession  March  5,  1766, 
three  years  and  four  months  after  the  cession.  Why 
this  long  delay  of  the  Spanish  King?  It  would  api)ear 
as  if  he  was  in  no  hurry  to  accept  the  munificent  gift 
of  his  cousin  of  France.  It  was  naturally  supposed 
that  the  Spanish,  imitating  the  example  of  the  Brit- 
ish, who  lost  no  time  in  taking  possession  of  their 
portion  of  the  ceded  country  below,  and  were  only 


COUNT  ULLOA.  23 

previ^ntt'd  by  tho  hostility  of  the  Natchez  tribe  of  In- 
dians from  jiscendinfj^  the  river  to  receive  tlu-ir  portion 
of  this  iippi'i"  re;^l<>M,  would  take  early  possession  of 
New  Orleans,  and  the  district  of  country  ceded  them 
below,  but  it  seems  they  were  in  no  hurry  to 
do  80. 

While  awaiting  their  arrival,  Mr.  D'Abadie,  an 
European  Frenchman,  fell  a  victim  to  the  climate, 
and  died  on  Fcbruaiy  4,  1705,  after  a  residence  in 
the  place  of  but  twenty  months,  and  Cai)t.  Aubry,  of 
the  French  regular  service,  the  senior  ofHcei'  in  the 
place,  succeeded  to  the  command. 

In  the  meantime  the  delay  of  the  S[)anish  in  tak- 
ing possession  tended  lar<^ely  to  strengthen  the  pop- 
ular belief  of  the  French  inhabitants  below,  that  the 
cession  to  S[)ain  was  but  a  tem})oraiy  measure  for 
political  reasons,  and  that  before  long  they  would  be 
retroceded  to  France,  and  when  eventually  after  ex- 
ceeding three  years'  delay,  Ulloa  did  appear  there, 
although  no  opposition  was  made  to  his  landing  with 
his  two  com[)anies,  yet  the  French  there  declined  to 
make  to  him  a  formal  transfer  of  the  place  as  is  usual 
in  these  cases,  and  Ulloa  would  not  assume  the  re- 
sponsibility of  endeavoring  to  take  a  forcible  posses- 
sion. This  delay  led  to  the  subsequent  troubles 
below,  which  resulted  so  disastrously  for  the  French 
population  of  the  place. 


S4  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

AiiKiii^  tln'  flpHt  of  thoHt;  who  came  over  from  Port 
ChiirtiVH,  wtTo  .Io«t'|)li  U'liiglcbtTt,  DcbruiHMeau,  and 
JoHeph  riUlmHcieiT. 

Di'l)niis8i'aii  had  been  a  prominent  man  there  in 
his  <lay,  a  native  of  France,  he  had  come  to  New 
Orleans  with  Gov.  l)e  Vaudrciill  in  174.*J,  and  up  to 
Fort  Chartres  in  1744,  with  a  licenHe  from  him  for 
the  excluHive  trade  for  five  years  witli  tlu-  Indians  of 
tlu)  IllinoiM  country,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
afterwards  liad  filled  the  office  of  judge  at  Fort 
Chartres. 

Joseph  LabuHciere  was  a  lawyer  and  a  notary,  styl- 
ing himself  the  king's  procuri'ur  (attorney)  and 
appears  to  have  been  a  very  important  personap'e  in 
the  inei[)ien('y  of  the  village,  dlHcharging  the  various 
functions  of  secretaiy,  notary,  scribe,  etc. 

After  several  unsuccessful  attemi)ts  of  the  British 
to  reach  the  Illinois  country  i)y  way  of  the  Mississippi 
and  otherwise,  Capt.  Sterling,  of  the  Highlanders, 
with  a  hundred  men  of  that  regiment,  had  finally 
succeeded  by  crossing  the  Allegheny  Mountains  from 
Philadelphia  and  descending  the  Ohio  to  reach  Fort 
Chartres,  and  on  the  10th  of  October  of  this  year, 
Capt.  St.  Ange,  who  had  been  awaiting  his  arrival, 
gave  him  possession  of  the  country  and  brought  over 
his  men,  numbering  some  twenty,  to  St.  Louis. 

Up  to  this  time,  the  winter  of  1765-66,  Laclede, 
by  virtue  of  the  license  from  the  French  governor  at 


ACTINO-GOV.  HT.  ANUfi.  25 

Xew  Oi'lfJiMM,  to  Ht'IfC't  IiIm  own  point  for  hln  Indian 
tradf,  wiiH  conHidert'd  by  all  who  cunu'  to  Hcttle 
aroinid  him,  uh  thr  h';»'al  proprietor  of  thr  new  place, 
an<l  all  {grants  of  lotn  in  the  phico  wore  nmdf  hy  him 
verbiilly,  and  ho  had  fxercist'd  tho  only  anthoiity  in 
the  place,  hnt  it  liavin<j^  now  become  a  villa<:^e  of  hov- 
cral  hundred  houIh  from  its  lapid  increase,  it  became 
esHcntially  necesHary  for  the  protection  and  welfare  of 
the  inhabitantH,  while  awaitiiifj^  the  cominpf  of  the 
new  anthoriticH  of  the  country,  that  there  sliould  be 
established  a  tem[)orary  •^■overnment  of  some  nature, 
to  frame  such  i'e<^ulationH  as  might  be  necessary  for 
the  villap;e.  For  this  purpose  Capt.  St.  Angc,  witii 
the  unanimous  approbation  of  the  inhabitants,  was 
vested  with  the  functions  of  temporary  f^overnor, 
but  not  clioosing  to  assume  the  sole  responsii)ility  of 
making  concessions  to  indivichials  of  lots  and  lands, 
now  the  possessions  of  their  new  sovereign,  Lefebvre, 
who  had  been  judge  on  the  other  side,  was  associated 
with  him  for  that  purpose  in  the  temporary  civil  gov- 
ernment of  the  place,  and  Joseph  Labuscierc,  a  man 
of  legal  knowledge,  who  had  filled  the  position  of 
the  king's  attorney,  was  assigned  to  the  position  of 
acting  secretary  and  executed  all  the  official  Avritings 
of  the  temporary  government. 

Under  thit>  arrangement  the  temporary  administra- 
tion of  Acting-Gov.  St.  Ange  and  his  colleagues 
went  into  operation  on  January  21,  1766,  that  being 


26  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  date  of  the  first  recorded  document  on  file  in  the 
archives. 

It  is  stated  in  some  of  the  early  annnls  of  the  Illi- 
nois side,  that  after  the  death  of  Capt.  Sterling, 
within  three  months  after  he  was  placed  in  possession 
at  Fort  Chai'tres,  that  St.  Ang-e,  at  the  request  of  the 
people  there,  went  over  and  took  temporary  connnand 
in  December,  1705,  until  the  new  British  command- 
ant, Maj.  Frazer,  should  ai'i-ive. 

There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  the  correctness  of  this 
statement,  for  the  reason  that  although  many  crossed 
over  to  this  side  in  17G5  as  stated,  yet  a  much  larger 
numl)er  yet  inhabited  the  other  side,  and  as  St.  Ange 
had  been  for  so  long  a  period  their  military  com- 
mandant, they  entertained  for  him  kindly  feelings  of 
affection  and  great  respect  for  his  authoi'ity.  Again, 
St.  Ange's  name  does  not  appear  on  any  document, 
as  commandant,  for  some  time  after  the  "govern- 
ment "  on  this  side  was  set  in  motion  in  January,  17GG. 
Lefebvre,  who  styles  himself  judge  in  St.  Louis,  hav- 
ing been  such  at  Fort  Chartres,  and  Labusciere  who 
had  been  the  royal  notary  and  attorney,  on  the  other 
side,  appear  to  have  taken  charge  of  the  civil  affairs 
of  the  new  place,  as  all  the  early  papers  found  in 
the  archives  appear  to  have  been  executed  in  the 
presence  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  last  two  parties. 
Labusciere  appears  to  have  been  the  custodian  of 
the  public  papers  during  this  temporary  government 


CAPT.  ST.  ANGE.  27 

uiuk'r  St.  Aii'ij'e,  and  ho  delivcM'cd  tlu'in  over  to  the 
first  Spanish  governor,  Piernas.  St.  Ang-e  content- 
ing himself  with  8ini[»ly  atHxing  his  signatnre  to  tlie 
land  grants  as  commandant. 


Capt.  Lonis  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive  was  a  Canadian 
hy  hirth,  was  well  advanced  in  years  at  the  date  of 
the  transfer  to  Cai)t.  Sterling  at  Fort  Chartres,  Oc- 
toher  10,  17()5,  and  had  been  in  the  military  service 
of  Fi'ance  in  the  Canadas  and  the  Illinois  country 
from  his  youth,  and  had  only  attained  the  rank  of 
captain,  promotion  in  these  western  wilds  being  at 
that  early  day  but  very  slow. 

After  having  placed  Capt.  Sterling  in  ])ossession 
of  Fort  Chartres,  and  with  it  the  u])per  portion  of 
the  country  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
St.  Ange  came  over  to  St.  Louis  with  his  few  sol- 
diers, numbering  some  twenty,  bringing  with  them, 
as  instructed,  the  arms,  stores  and  mnnitions  of  Avar 
belonging  to  the  king  of  France,  which  had  been 
left  there  the  j)revious  3'ear  Avhen  abandoned  by  Gov. 
De  Yilliers,  finally  abandoning  altogethei  the  east 
side  of  the  river. 

Shoi'tly  afterwards  the  people  of  the  new  place, 
after  having  waited  patiently  for  exceeding  a  year 
in  the  constant  expectation  of  the  new  authori- 
ties of  the  country  making  their  appearance,  as 
had   l)een    done   by   the  English   on  the   east  side, 


28  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  rapid  and  sudden  growth  of  the  village,  and 
above  all  the  necessity  for  some  authority  to  grant 
lands  for  cultivation,  compelled  the  people  to  assume 
the  responsibility  of  vesting  this  authority  tempo- 
rarily in  some  person  for  that  purpose ;  hence  the 
establishment,  by  the  peo[)le  themselves  collectively, 
of  the  temporary  government,  and  the  assumption 
by  St.  Ange  and  associates,  with  the  approbation  of 
the  inhabitants,  of  the  positions  they  had  filled  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  True,  it  was  nothing 
more  than  a  self-constituted  government  of  the  whole 
people  of  the  place,  adopted,  inider  the  circumstances 
in  which  they  found  themselves  placed,  for  their 
safety  and  protection  until  the  new  owners  of  the 
country  should  appear  and  receive  possession,  which 
from  the  example  of  their  new  neighbors,  the  English 
on  the  other  side,  who  had  already  been  in  possession 
for  a  considerable  time,  they  naturally  expected  as 
soon  to  occur,  never  for  a  moment  dreaming  that 
through  the  ill-advised  action  of  their  misguided 
countrymen  below  (and  for  which  they  subsequently 
paid  so  severe  a  penalty)  so  long  a  pei'iod  as  four 
years  would  elapse  before  the  authority  of  their  new 
sovereign  would  be  established. 

This  temporary  government  of  the  people  of  the 
place  then  went  into  operation  with  the  first  recorded 
concession  in  April,  17G6.  Previously  to  this 
date   a   few   papers   of    a   private    nature   executed 


JOSEPH  i^ABUSCIERE.  29 

before  Labiiseiere  in  hk^  „quality  as  notary ;  the 
first,  on  Jaiuiary  21,  1776, 'were  entered  by  him  in 
the  archives ;  this  is  the  oldest  document  of  the 
place. 

Joseph  Labusciere  came  from  Canada  to  the  Illi- 
nois country,  and  was  married  at  the  little  village 
of  St.  Phillippe  on  the  other  side,  now  extinct,  to 
Catherine  Vifvarenne,  who  was  born  in  that  village 
of  Canadian  parents;  possessing  some  education, 
he  claimed  to  be  the  deputy  of  the  king's  attorney, 
and  acted  in  the  capacity  of  notary  and  writer.  He 
Avas  among  the  first  to  come  over  to  the  west  side  in 
17G5,  and  participated  with  Laclede,  St.  Ange  and 
Lefebvre  in  setting  in  operation  the  temporary  gov- 
ernment in  January,  176G,  of  which  he  did  nearly  all 
the  writing  during  its  existence  of  over  four  years. 
The  land  grant  books  and  nearly  all  the  original 
documents  in  the  early  archives  are  in  his  hand- 
writing ;  his  first  official  document  on  record  is  of 
date  January  21,  1766,  and  his  last  in  May,  1770. 
The  concession  to  him  of  block  Xo.  13  in  the  village 
is  the  first  on  record  in  the  Livre  Terrien,  April  27, 
1766.  St.  Ange  was  associated  with  Judge  Lefebvre 
in  the  first  fifteen  of  these  concessions,  and  after- 
wards Labusciere  with  Gov.  St.  Ange  until  the  close 
of  the  French  administration.  After  the  establish- 
ment   of    the    Spanish   authority   by   Capt.    Pedro 


30  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Piernas  May  10,  1770,  ho  had  nothing  further  to  do 
with  the  nianageinont  of  piihHc  affairs,  but  continued 
to  exercise  the  calling  of  notary  and  scrivener  in  the 
place  for  many  years.  lie  died  elsewhere,  I  think 
at  N^ew  Madi'id,  and  left  three  sons,  —  Joseph,  Jr., 
Louis  and  Francis. 


Joseph  Lefebvre,  D'Inglebert  Debruisseau,  was  a 
native  of  France,  and  came  to  Louisiana  with  his 
wife  and  infant  son  in  1713,  with  the  new  governor- 
general,  De  Vaudreuil.  In  1744  he  came  up  from 
!N^ew  Orleans  with  a  license  from  the  governor 
granting  him  "the  exclusive  privilege  of  the  Indian 
trade  in  the  upper  country,  or  Illinois  district,  for 
five  years,"  and  settled  at  Fort  Chartres,  where  in 
after  years  he  officiated  as  judge  of  that  district. 
Judge  Ticf'^bvre  was  among  the  first  in  1765  to  come 
to  this  side,  and  in  conjunction  with  Joseph  Labu- 
sciere,  were  the  two  parties  that  first  assumed  to  set 
the  ciml  government  of  St.  Louis  in  oj)eration,  while 
jiwaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish  officials  to  take 
possession  of  the  country.  He  received  from  La- 
clede in  1765  a  verbal  gi-ant  of  the  north  half  of 
block  No.  11,  where  he  built  a  small  house  of  posts 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Locust. 

When  the  system  of  Livre  Terriens,  or  "Land 
Books"  was  commenced  in  April,  1766,  Lefebvre 


DE  LA  FERNE.  81 

was  associated  with  Capt.  St.  Ange  in  the  grants  of 
lots  and  lands ;  this  position  he  filled  for  a  few 
months  and  was  then  appointed  by  Acting  Governor 
St.  Ange  to  the  office  of  the  king's  military  store- 
keeper. He  died  on  April  8,  17G7,  one  of  the  earliest 
deaths  in  the  new  village  of  less  than  two  years' 
existence. 

His  son,  Pierre  Francois  Brnnot  Joseph  D'lngle- 
bert  Lefebvre,  was  married  November  10,  1768,  to 
Miss  Margaret,  danghter  of  Bardet  de  la  Feme,  sur- 
geon in  the  khig's  service.  Lieut.  Lefebvre  died  in 
New  Orleans  in  1770,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years,  leaving  no  children.  His  widow  became  sub- 
sequently the  wife  of  Joseph  Segond,  a  merchant  of 
the  early  day  from  France.  She  died  there  in  1844:, 
at  exceeding  ninety  years  of  age,  leaving  a  numerous 
posterity. 

Pierre  Ignace  Bardet  de  la  Feme,  a  surgeon-major 
in  the  French  service  at  Fort  Chartres,  was  the  hus- 
band of  Marie  Anne  Barrois.  They  had  two  daught- 
ers, the  oldest,  Marie  Anne,  who  was  married  to  Dr. 
Auguste  Conde,  also  a  surgeon  in  the  French  service 
at  Fort  Chartres,  July  16,  1763,  and  a  younger  one. 
Marguerite,  then  about  ten  years  of  age.  Dr.  Bar- 
det de  la  Feme  died,  whether  before  or  after  the 


32  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

marriage  of  his  eldest  daugliter  to  Dr.  Coiide,  we  have 
not  found  on  record.  Subsequently  his  widow  also 
died  and  named  Mr.  Henry  Cai'pentier,  of  Ste.  Gene- 
vieve, her  executor  and  guardian  for  her  ujinor 
daughter  Marguerite. 

In  the  year  1766,  Dr.  Conde  being  about  to  remove 
to  St.  Louis ;  for  the  convenience  of  all  parties,  with 
the  consent  of  the  court,  Dr.  Conde  was  appointed 
guardian  to  t.'ie  minor  daughter.  Miss  Mai'guerite,  then 
about  twelve  and  a  half  years  of  age,  and  received 
from  Mr.  Carpeutier  all  the  property,  real  and  per- 
sonal as  mentioned  in  the  inventory  of  the  widow, 
Madame  Bardet  de  la  Perne.  This  was  done  at  Ste. 
Genevieve  In  presence  of  Francois  Duchouquet  and 
Pierre  Fauche,  November  12,  1766.  Two  years 
thereafter,  on  Noveml)er  10,  1768,  when  the  youug 
lady  had  attained  the  age  of  fourteen  and  a  half 
years,  as  stated  above,  she  Avas  maiTied  to  Pierre 
Francois  Brunot  Joseph  D'  Inglebert  Lefebvre. 


The  first  document  recorded  in  the  archives  of  St. 
Louis  was  a  sale  January  21,  1766,  by  James  Denis, 
a  joiner,  to  Antoine  Hubert,  merchant,  of  a  half  lot 
of  ground,  sixty  feet  front  by  one  hundred  and  fifty 
deep  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Walnut  and  Second, 
with  a  house  of  posts  on  the  same  built  by  himself, 


AN  EARLY  INVENTORY.  83 

the  lot  haviiif''  been  f^raiited  him  l)y  the  coininaiuler 
verbally,  the  sale  made  for  ^^220  (the  house  $200,  the 
ground  $20) . 

Another  sale  by  the  said  Denis  to  the  same 
Hubert  on  ^Mareh  15,  17(50,  of  the  other  half  lot,  ad- 
joining the  first,  GO  by  150,  for  $20  and  six  quarts  of 
rum,  the  whole  being  120  feet  on  8eeond  by  150  on 
Walnut,  opposite  the  lot  where  Barnum's  Hotel  now 
stands. 

The  '^Livres  Terriens,"'  or  register  of  grants  of 
lots  in  the  village  of  St.  Louis,  commenced  on  April 
27,  17GG,  with  a  grant  to  Labusciere  of  the  present 
block  1^0.  i:J,  300  feet  French  from  Vine  to  Wash- 
ington Avenue  by  150  from  Main  to  the  river. 


The  document  that  follows  is  one  of  the  earliest 
inventories  and  is  introduced  as  a  specimen  :  — 

AN    EARLY    INVENTOUY. 

"In  the  year  ITfifi,  March  15,  at  nine  o'clock,  a.  ni.,  we,  Joseph 
Lefebvre  d'  Inglebert,  Deputy  of  the  Onlercr  of  Louisiana, 
and  Judge  in  the  Royal  Jurisdiction  of  the  Illinois,  on  the  request 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Labusciere,  attorney  for  the  vacant  localities  in 
this  said  jurisdiction,  who  represented  to  us  in  his  petition  of  the 
12th  instant,  that  he  liad  been  informed  of  tlie  capture  of  Mr. 
Cazeau  by  Indians  on  the  Mississippi  in  ascending  from  Now  Or- 
leans, said  Mr.  Cazeau  having  goods  on  the  boat  of  Mr.  Lambert, 
which  arrived  with  the  said  goods  at  the  post  of  Ste.  Genevieve, 
and  requested  us  to  repair  to  said  post  of  Ste.  Genevieve  to  take 
cognizance  of  the  same,  and  place  our  seals  on  the  goods  belong- 

3 


34  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Ing  10  the  Haiti  Mr.  Cazeaii ;  to  preserve  liis  rights,  ami  that  of 
others  to  whom  they  may  bclouj;,  ami  in  consequence  of  our  or- 
dinance, atHxcd  to  the  bottom  of  tlie  petition  of  the  said  attor- 
ney for  vacant  localities,  dated  the  same  tlay,  wo  repaired  to  the 
said  Ste.  Genevieve,  twenty-one  leaj^ues  distant  from  our  post, 
accompanied  by  the  said  attorney  for  vacant  places,  and  l)y  Mr. 
Cabazie,  writer  at  said  Ste.  Genevieve,  where  on  our  arrival,  we 
went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Lambert,  and  after  summoning  him  to 
show  us  the  effects,  trunks  and  l)ales  belonging  to  Mr.  Cazoau,  and 
after  liaving  sworn  him  in  the  usual  manner,  gave  us  in  evidence 
what  follows,  where  we  found  the  seals  already  applied  by  Mr.  Du 
Breuil,  du  Rieu  and  Larralde,  and  which  we  found  whole  and 
perfect,  said  merchandise  consisting,  viz. : 

"A  cloth  portmanteau  on  which  we  found  the  seals  afHxed  at 
three  places  on  the  covering,  after  removing  it  in  the  presence 
of  Messrs.  Kocheblave,  Lambert,  Datchurut,  Vallc,  Blondeau, 
Bloin,  Leclerc  and  Fagot,  all  merchants  at  said  place  of  Ste. 
Genevieve,  we  found  the  following  articles :  — 

Two  silver  spoons,  no  mark,  Two  Beaufort  sheets, 

Twelve  liueu  shirts,  Four  small  cotton  lmntll<erchlef.s, 

One  polonaise  skirt,  One  large  cotton  breeches, 

Three  pair  stockinyis,  mucli  worn,  Four  towels, 

Three  vests,  One  cotton  vest, 

One  cloak,  One  large  llneu  breeches. 

One  pair  shoes,  Nine  pair  of  sockx, 

One  blue  cloth  vest.  One  cotton  cap, 

A  jacket,  in  pocket  a  small  knife  A  shoe  brush. 
and  gloves. 

"  Opened  a  trunk  and  found  in  it  — 

A  white  liat  and  two  black  cues,        A  gilt  hunting  knife  scabbard, 

Six  rolls  of  chocolate,  A  gray  linen  vest, 

A  sliaviug  cup,  A  piece  of  cloth, 

A  row  of  pins,  A  coat  and  vest  of  greeu  camlet  and 

An  ell  of  black  ribbon,  breeches. 

Six  silver  forks,  A  seersucker  vest. 

Four  silver  spoons,  A  bl:'.ck  velvet  breeches. 

Two  Ragout  spoous,  Two    small    diaries    and   a   box   of 

One  soup  spoon,  lea, 


AN  OLD  INVENTORY. 


35 


Five  knives, 

A  xniull  stiver  cauillcfltlck, 

Three  packs  o(  curds, 

Fifteen  clasp  kulves, 

A  pack  uf  pins, 

Two  bunches  of  thread, 

A  piece  of  black  ribbon, 

A  bamlkerchlof, 

A  red  canlet  breeches, 

A  pair  of  black  wool  stockings, 

A  l)riisli, 

A  piece  of  crape. 

Six  red  handkerchiefs,  silk  and 

cotton, 
A  calico  petticoat  and  dress, 
A  toilet  mirror, 
A  l)lack  velvet  l)reeches, 
A  fjray  linen  breeches, 
A  red  camlet  cloak  (a  volant), 
A  damask  robe  de  chambre  for  man 
A  volant  of    blue  silk,  same  as 

breeches, 
A  vest  and  breeches  of  gray  linen, 
A  green  camlet  breeches, 
A  linen  combinj;  cloth. 
Four  sheets  and  two  table  cloths, 
A  pack  of  pins  and  strings. 
A  silver  handled  sword  and  scab- 

liard, 


Two  packages  Indigo  and  an  old  hair 

A  gold  dragonue  and  vial  of  laudanum. 

Twenty-six  old  towels. 

Twenty-two  collars,  white  and  l)lack. 

Three  linen  jackets. 

Fourteen  cotton  handkerchiefs, 

Two  dimity  vests, 

Thirty-three  linen  shirts,  partly  used. 

Ten  pair  stockings,  thread,  silk  and 

cotton, 
A    purse,   seven    linen    night    caps, 

towels, 
Four  pair  linen  knee  I>and8, 
Nineteen  cotton  handkerchiefs, 
A  small  pack  of  gold  and  silver  twist, 
A  pack  of  thread. 
Three  pair  gloves,  a  wash-bale, 
A  pocket-book  we  did  not  open, 
Several  papers  and  two  small  books, 

put  back  in  trunk, 
A  small  casket  in  which  there  was  a 

gold  watch  in  a  snuff-box, 
A  paper  of  pins, 
A  mother  of  pearl  siiuff-l)ox, 
Three  sliell-handled  razors. 
Several  letters  put  back  In  the  boxes, 
A  gold    cross    with    gold    buckles, 

claimed  by  Mr.  Lagrange's  negress, 

handed  to  Mr.  Lambert. 


"The  foregoing  articles  were  put  bacic  in  the  portraauteaii,  as 
also  ill  the  said  trunk,  each  in  its  place,  and  after  shutting  up  the 
said  goods,  we  i)laced  on  them  our  seals,  and  gave  thena  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Lamliert  to  produce  them  wlien  found  necessary, 
and  after  maturely  considering  the  circumstances,  and  that  Mr. 
Cazeau  might  have  partners  interested  at  New  Orleans,  the  attor- 
ney of  the  vacant  places  required  us  to  have  a  meeting  of  the 
most  prominent  meichants  of  this  post,  to  consider  the  most  ad- 
visable steps  to  take  for  the  interests  of  the  said  Cazeau  and  oth- 
ers interested,  and  in  consequence  of  his  request  we  assembled, 
Messrs.    Rocheblave,    Lambert,    Datchurut,     Valle,     Blondeau, 


\ 


30  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Blouin,  Leclerc  and  Fagot,  who,  after  inaturcly  coDHidcring,  con- 
cliulcd  that  all  tliu  racrcliandisc  and  tilings  of  said  Mr.  Ca/.cau 
uliall  l)e  left  in  custody  of  -Mr.  Lambert,  until  inforntatiou  was 
given  to  Mr.  Dovaugine,  relative  of  Hnid  Mr.  Cazeau,  and  those 
in  interest  witli  liim,  which  is  to  he  done  in  a  statement  in  the 
shape  of  an  inventory  of  the  bales  by  numbers  and  marks,  bar- 
rels, boxes  and  other  things  wliicli  may  be  found  shut  up, 
without  opening  them,  for  all  is  to  be  put  in  the  care  of  Mr. 
Lambert,  who  has  voluntarily  taken  charge  of  them,  saving  all 
unforeseeu  risks,  accidents  and  dangers,  and  we  proceed  as 
follows :  — 

Four  boxes  which  appeared  to  con-  Two  baskets  with  two  ilccaaters 

tiiln  (Iriiikul)lcs  marked  i'  B,  each  of  cordials, 

Four  ankers  oi  brandy,  C  B,  One  box  of  22  bottles  of  wine, 

A  small  box,  fastened  with  lock  Uue  (juarter  of  sii^ar, 

and  key,  ('  B,  Six  guns,  half  stocks,  3  axes,  a  piece 
Four  kegs  powder,  two  of  50  lbs,  of  rope, 

two  of  80  lbs,  C  B,  A  large  green  blanket,  a  white  one. 
Two  pieces  of  Beaufort  marked  C  B         bad,  two  hatchets, 

Five  barrels  Tatlla  (Rum)  marked  A  mattress  and   pillow,  a  piece  of 

L  B  on  a  cross,  coarse  brln,  marked  C  B, 

Five  bales,  marked  C  B, 

"Two  negroes,  one  named  Samson,  and  the  other  Larose,  which 
were  turned  over  this  day  to  j\Ir.  Fngot  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Vnu- 
gine,  at  New  Orleans,  and  of  which  we  relieved  Mr.  Lambert. 
The  above  mentioned  articles,  are  all  that  said  Mr.  Lambert 
says  he  had  any  knowledge  of  as  belonging  to  Mr.  Cazeau  and 
which  we  have  entrusted  to  him,  to  be  produced  when  called  for, 
as  in  the  hands  of  the  court. 

"  Lefebvue  d'  Inglebert,  Judge." 


Laclede's  verbal  guaxts  of  village  lots. 

Laclede  made  verbal  grants  in  17G5  to  varions 
pai'ties  of  a  lot  each  npon  which  to  bnild  his  house, 
as  soon  as  it  was  possible  to  accomplish  it.  The 
largest  portion  of  thom,  of  upright  posts  set  in  the 


VKKUAL  GKANTS  BV  LACLEDE.  37 

ground,  were  put  up  tlic  same  yi-nr,  a  few  of  Mtone, 
Mvvw,  built  Moon  afterwards:  — 

Block  No.  1,  north  li.ilf  to  Gillus  Clioinin,  house  20  x  17  feet 
No.  2,  south  linlf  to  Chinks  rnrtMit,  do.  20x25  feet. 
No.  2,  north  half  to  AU-xis  Cotte,  first  post,  then  stone  do.,  in  1774, 
No.  3,  south  half  to  Louis  Lnroi-lio,  post  do.,  2.3x20. 
No.  3,  north  liaif  to  Louis  Maroheli'au,  post  (U).,  20  x  .'50. 
No.  4,  Boutli  iiulf  to  Constantine  Quirigoust,  post  do.,  20x20. 
No.  4,  north  half  to  Louis  Martheteati,  post  do.,  15x20. 
No.  5,  south  iiaif  to  Julien  Lcroj-,  post,  2;{  x  2.'J,  post  in  a  wall  do. 
No.  5,  north  half  to  Anmble  Guion,  first  u  small  post,  then  n 

stone  do. 
No.  0,  soutli  iialf  to  Louis  Ride,  Sr.,  post  do. 
No.  6,  north  lialf  to  .John  H.  Martigny,  first  post,  then  a  stone  do. 
No.  7,  reserved  for  Place  d'Armos. 

No,  8,  south  half  to  Alexander  Langlois,  post  and  stone  do. 
No.  8,  north  half  to  Francis  llissonct,  stone  do. 
No.  9,  south  half  to  .Joseph  Duhe,  small  cabin. 
No.  1),  north  half  to  Rene  Kiersereau,  20x25  do. 
No.  10,  south  iialf  to  Charles  Koutier,  mason,  1)5x20  do. 
No.  10,  north  half  to  Alexis  Picard,  25  x  2(i  do. 
No.  11,  south  half  to  John  B.  Bayet,  25x20  do. 
No.  11,  north  half  to  Judge  Joseph  Lefebvre,  40x22  do. 
No.  12,  south  half  to  John  B.  Ilervieux,  gunsmith,  30xlG  do. 
No.  21),  southeast  quarter  to  John  B.  Jacquemin,  15  x  18  do. 
No.  2'J,  southwest  quarter  to  Isidor  Peltier,  15  x  20  do. 
No.  30,  northwest  quarter  to  Francis  Larche,  15x20  do. 
No.  30,  southeast  quarter  to  John  B.  Bidet,  15x20  do. 
No.  31,  southeast  quarter  to  John  B.  ( Jamache,  20  x  25  do. 
No.  31,  northwest   quarter    to    Francis    Thibaut,    carpenter, 

15x20  do. 
No.  32,  northeast  quarter  to  Louis  Deshetres,  stone  do. 
No.  32,  northwest  quarter  to  Paul  G.  Kiersereau,  25x20  do. 
No.  32,  southeast  quarter  to  Nicholas  Marechal,  20  x  25  do. 
No.  32,  southwest   quarter   to   Joseph    Denoj-er    Marcheteau, 

15x18  do. 
No.  33,  northeastquartertoLacledcforMrs.  Chouteau,  stone  do. 


38 


ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 


Block  No.  33,  northwcHt  riuurtor  to.ToMopli  I^nhrosHi-,  8tonoliou80. 
No.  33,  Houtli  linlf  to  JoHi'pli  Tiiilloii,  hIoiic  do. 
No.  31,  Lat;lijtlt('H  IJlock  for  Mftxcnt.  &  Co.,  intone  do. 
No.  35,  noi'tlicaHt  qunrter  to  Lniulu>i  t  Uonviirlot,  cabin. 
No.  3.'),  nortliwcHt  (|iiurtor  to  JncqucH  DoiiIh,  carpenter,  cabin. 
No.  35,  soutlu-UHt  (|iiiirter  to  .lolin  H.  DcHcliiunpH,  20x25  do. 
No.  35,  Houtiiwcst  (juartfr  to  Marccroiiu. 
No.  3(5,  northeast  qiiartiT  to  Klery  Desnoyers,  20  x  25  do. 
No.  3f>,  Houtiicast  qiiurter  to  John  U.  Itucquet,  20  x  Iti  do. 
No.  3r>,  nortiiweHt  ((iiiirttT  to  (labriol  Dodier,  Jr.,  21  x  22  do. 
No.  3(),  southwcttt  (luurter  to  (iabricl   Dodier'a,    Sr.,    widow, 
20x22  do. 


No.  87 

No.  37 
No.  38 
Ifix 
No.  38 
No.  38 
No.  31) 
No.  31) 
No.  to 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 


No. 

No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 


40 
U 
41 
41 
41 
44 
52 
53 
54 
57 
57 
58 
62 
02 
63 
64 


No.  82 
No.  82 


HOiithcast  quarter  to  JftCiiiies  Noise  dii  Labb£,  22x30  do. 
southwcHt  quarter  to  Antoiiie  Riviere,  Sr. ,  stone  do. 
nortltcast    ([uarter    to    Uougcau    &    iJuHfonds,    pottts, 
15  do. 
nortliwestijuarter  to  I'ierre  Montardy,  posts,  20  x  18  do. 
soutli  luilf  to  Igna<!0  Ilebert's  widow,  Htoiic  do. 
north  lialf  to  Nicholas  Beauf^enoti,  Sr.,  35  x  25  do. 
southeast  (juarter  to  Joseph  Ilebert,  25  x  15  do. 
soutlieast  quarter  to  F'rancis  Marelieteau,  15  x  10  do. 
northeast  ([uarter  to  Charles  Carrier,  20  x  25  do. 
northeast  one-sixth  to  Tuiissaint  Ilunaud,  20  x  25  do. 
center  one-sixth  to  Joseph  L.  Martigny,  20  x  18  do. 
northwest  one-sixth  to  Pierre  Berger,  20  x  25  do. 
soutijwest  ono-sixth  to  Gilles  Chemin,  12  x  15  do. 
north  half  to  Gabriel  Descary,  22  x  20  do. 
center  one-sixth  to  Claude  Tinon,  22  x  16  do. 
south  half  to  John  B.  Durand,  20  x  18  do. 
northeast  quarter  to  Joseph  Turgeon,  20  x  18  do. 
southeast  quarter  to  Legrain. 
northeast  quarter  to  Marie  Juannettc,  25  x  20  do. 
northeast  qu.irter  to  Michel  Rollet,  25  x  20  do. 
south  half  to  Francis  Moreau,  25  x  22  do. 
north  half  to  Juhen  Leroy,  12  x  15  do. 
northeast  quarter  to  Ignace  Laroche,  16  x  16  do. 
south  half  to  Louis  Robert,  15  x  15  do. 
southeast  quarter  to  Pierre  Montardy,  soldier,  20x  19  do. 
northeast  quarter  to  Pierre  Montardy,  soldier, 40  x  22  do. 


TIIK  FIllST  MANUMIHrtlON.  39 

Ah  the  site  of  tlu'  villftpfo  wns  then  thickly  oovored 
with  timhcr  and  racli  oiu«  h.'ul  to  <lo,  or  have  done, 
hiK  own  cli'ariiijf,  the  only  landmark  to  ;;nidt'  hin)  in 
finding?  thr  location  asni^ncd  him  hy  Laclede,  whm 
the  spot  on  whi(di  Iia<lede  waH  then  l)uildinf<  his 
trading  j)OHt,  which  waw  the  initial  point  of  the  vil- 
lage, from  which  all  the  otlurH  were  anccrtained  hy 
admeasurement,  etc. 


TIIK    FIRST   MANUMISSION. 

\Extrntl  from  the  rnlh  of  the  UegiMry  of  the  llnijnl  Jurisdiction  of  the 

lllinoi».] 

"  To  ^fenllrs.  Pe  Nejion  do.  VilUers,  Major  Commandant,  and  Dobe 
Desilamedux,  Aclinij  Commissioner  and  Judge  in  Illinois: 

"The  Abbe  P'orj^ct,  vii'ar-geiiornl,  nml  superior  of  the  mis- 
sions, requests  tiint  it  tn:iy  ph-ase  you,  to  authorize  n;iaiiting  free- 
dom to  tiie  negro  shives  of  lliis  mission,  for  the  care  and  good 
services  they  rendered  my  predecessors  and  to  myself,  to  wit:  a 
negro  named  Appollo,  aged  about  sixty  years,  liis  wife,  Jean- 
nette,  thirty-eight,  and  liis  youngest  cliild,  Ansehno,  tlwee  years 
and  a  half. 

•'At  FOUT  ClURTRES,  Nov.  4,  17<i3. 

"  FoKUKT, 

"  J/ias'.v  Priest,  Vicar-General." 

"  Considering  the  above  request  of  the  Abbo  Forget,  we  grant 
full  and  entire  liberty  to  the  above  named  Appollo,  Jeannette  his 
wife,  and  Anselmo  their  child  ;  to  enjoy  all  the  rights  granted  to 
the  enfranchised,  with  the  injunction  to  pursue  an  irreproachable 
conduct,  and  to  hold  in  respect  Mr.  Forget,  as  well  as  all  others 


40  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOULS 

worthy  of   rospt'ct,  uikUt  penalty  of  In-iug   punished  according 
to  tlie  lawa  of  tlie  realm. 
"Illinois,  Nov.  V2,  17U3. 

"  Neyon  dk  Villiers, 

"  BOB^. 

"  Cop3' couformiiig  to  the  original.  Laul'scieke,  Xotanj. 

"  I,  John  Arnold  Valentine  Bobe  Desclaiiseaux,  Orderer  and 
.Tudgc  in  the  Royal  Jurisdiction  of  Illinois,  certify  to  whom  it 
may  concern,  that  the  signature  at  the  bottom  of  the  act  of 
emaucipalion  on  tlie  previous  page  is  that  of  3Ir.  Labusciere, 
and  that  he  is  notary  and  register  in  this  jurisdiction,  and  that 
full  faith  may  be  put  in  his  otlicial  acts  as  such. 

'•  In  testimony  we  have  alllxed  the  seals  of  our  otlice. 

"lu  Illinois,  Nov.  U,  17iJ3. 

"BUBE." 


"  I  certify  having  sold,  in  advance  of  her  dowiy,  to  iMadame 
De  Volsay,  the  daughter  of  Madelon,  named  Juannette,  for  the 
sum  of  live  hundred  livres,  which  she  is  to  account  for  to  her 
brother  and  sister,  when  you  will  make  partition  after  my  death. 

"  Natcuitoches,  July  10,  17tJ8. 

"  De  Vir.LiERS,  Knight." 


STE.  GENEVIEVE. 

Danit'l  Jilouiu  was  a  .sou-in-law  of  the  original 
Joseph  Chauvin  dit  Charleville,  and  his  home  was  at 
Kaskaskia,  altliough  he  had  operated  largely  in  lead 
at  the  mine  Lamothe,  and  salt  at  the  works  on  the 
Saline,  as  would  appear  tVom  the  following :  — 

"  Daniel  Blouin,  merchant  of  Kaskaskia,  put  on  record  in  the 
archives  of  St.  Louis,  December  17,  17GG,  an  iuveutory  of  the 
property  he  possessed  on  that  day  in  the  District  of  Ste.  Gene- 


AN  EARLY  SALE.  ^ 

vieve,  and  wliicli  hu  had  disposed  of  to  Mr.  John  Datchnrut  on 
that  date  at  Mine  Laraothe  and  the  Salines : 

"A  negro  man  named  Ciesar,  and  wife  Jeanctton. 

"  Four  negro  men,  Marthurin,  Batiste,  Noyos  and  Jasmin. 

"  Half  a  house  and  three  negro  cabins. 

"A  i)iece  of  ground  from  Lai)aHtille  and  I'icart. 

"  A  piece  of  ground  from  each,  Laroze,  Tassin  and  Moreau. 

"Two  lots  of  mineral,  one  in  partnership  witii  Mv.  Beauvais. 

"  Two  hundred  and  eighty-four  pigs  of  lead,  ten  horses,  and 
the  necessary  tools. 

"  A  house  in  Ste.  Genevieve  acquired  from  the  minors  of  Lin, 
and  at  the  Saline,  .50  pigs  of  lead,  a  pump,  a  shed  and  pig-sty, 
2  leaden  kettles  for  salt  and  li>0  cedar  stakes. 

"All  whieh  I  have  sold  to  Mr.  Datchurut,  who  has  this  day 
taken  possession  of  the  whole,  except  the  ground  in  suit  with 
Mr.  Catalan  until  after  the  decision  of  the  suit  before  the  coun- 
cil which  will  be  Datchurut's  if  decided  in  my  favor. 

"The  whole  for  the  sum  of  forty-nine  thousand  six  hundred 
livres  (49,000)  in  genuine  money,  which  I  have  received  in  cash, 
for  which  I  hold  the  said  Datchurut  released. 

"  The  deed  to  be  executed  with  the  same  date. 

"  Datciiukit  —  Blouin." 

The  deed  for  the  above  was  executed  m  St.  Louis, 
Januaiy  17,  17G7. 


Isidor  Peltier  sold  to  Louis  Blouin,  both  of  Ste. 
Genevieve,  October  7,  1767,  a  negro  man,  and  house 
and  lot  in  that  place  for  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  fifty  livres,  and  gave  his  note  for  the  amount, 
upon  whieh  he  paid  April  23,  17G8,  nine  himdred 
lives.     (Archives.) 


42  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


MADAME    STE.  ANGE  —  FORT   CIIARTRES. 

The  following-  receipt  is  found  on  record  in  the 
earliest  archives  of  St.  Louis :  — 

I,  the  undersigned,  acknowledge  to  have  received  from  Mr. 
De  Volsay  the  sum  of  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty 
livres,  accruing  to  ray  wife,  Joaciiina  De  Villiers  from  the  estate 
of  Madame  Ste.  Ange,  her  grandmother,  with  which  I  am  satis- 
fied in  regard  to  8aid  estate,  and  release  the  said  M.  De  Volsay 
and  all  others,  for  wliich  this  is  a  general  release. 

Moreover,  I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  my  brother-in-law's 
portion,  the  Chevallier  de  Villiers,  of  three  thousand,  three  hun- 
dred and  forty  livres,  wiiich  I  will  deliver  to  him  when  he  comes 
of  age.     Done  at  Fort  Chartres  the  10th  of  May,  1705. 

PicoTE  Belkstke, 

St.  Ange,  witness,  Lekebvke,  Judge. 

This  statement  was  made  hy  De  Volsay  about  a 
year  after  De  Villiers  had  abandoned  Fort  Chartres 
and  gone  below.  Mrs.  St.  Ange,  the  old  lady, 
mother  of  Capt.  St.  Ange  and  his  sister  Mrs.  De 
Villiers,  and  grandmother  of  De  Villiers'  three 
children,  had  died  some  years  previously.  Judge 
Lefebvre  was  still  there  that  summer. 


lExtract  from  the  Registry  of  Ste.   Genevieve,  of  the  24th  of  December, 

1769.-] 

"  This  day  December  24,  1769,  personally  appeared  at  the 
Register's  office  in  Ste.  Genevieve,  one  Chatal,  a  lead  miner,  who 
affirmed  tliat  lie  has  never  presented  an  application  to  prospect,  or 


CAPT.  STERLING'S  REPORT.  43 

had  extracted  any  lead  mineral  from  the  Mine  Lamothe ;  that 
the  commandants  had  never  been  importuned  by  him  nor  by 
Gaignon,  his  associate,  to  which  deposition  he  adheres  as 
veritable. 

"  Done  at  Stc.  Genevieve  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

"A  true  copy.  "  Cabazik,  Register. 

"  In  presence  of  Messrs.  Deguirre  and  Girard  Langlois, 
witnesses." 


"Having  full  knowledge  that  Mr.  Picar  did  not  work,  nor  ex- 
tract mineral  from  the  hole  of  Mr.  Larose,  having  full  knowledge 
is  why  we  have  given  him  this  certificate. 

"  Done  at  Mine  Lamothe  the  2l3t  November,  1770. 

"  Mr.  Pepir's  X  mark,  "  Menager, 

"  FoNBLON,  WiUiess." 


Immediately  after  Captain  Sterling-  had  received 
possession  of  Fort  Charti'es,  and  with  it  the  Illinois 
country  in  17G5.  Capt.  Phili[)  Pitman,  of  the  British 
Engineer  Corps,  a  man  in  every  way  competent,  was 
sent  out  by  General  Gage  to  make  a  survey  of  the 
forts,  and  report  on  the  condition  of  the  villages  and 
settlements  of  the  country ;  this  he  did  in  17G6. 

His  report,  a  very  complete  one  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  pages,  was  published  in  London  in  1770. 
In  it  he  gives  a  full  and  minute  descri[)tion  of  the 
Fort  Chartres  and  the  various  buildings  in  it,  and 
concludes  his  description  by  saying  that  "it  was 
generally  considered  the  most  convenient  and  best 
built  fort  in  ^orth  America." 


44  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

KASKASKIA. 

Then  ho  proceeds  with  the  vilUiges,  commencing 
with  Kuskaskia,  the  most  important,  which  he  thus 
describes :  — 

"  '  Cascasqnias '  is  by  far  the  most  considerable  set- 
tlement in  the  Illinois  country.  It  has  a  church  and 
Jesuit's  house,  which  with  a  few  other  houses  are  of 
stone.  There  are  sixty-five  families  in  the  village, 
with  a  few  merchants  and  traders.  A  Mr.  Paget 
built  the  first  water  mill  in  the  country,  on  the  Kas- 
kaskia,  about  a  mile  above  the  village,  Avhere  he  was 
killed  Avith  his  two  negroes  by  the  Cherokees  in 
1764.  The  Jesuits  had  a  plantation  of  240  arpents 
in  cultivation,  with  a  stock  of  cattle  and  a  l)rewery, 
all  of  which  Avas  sold  by  the  French  commander 
after  the  cession  to  the  English,  the  order  being- 
suppressed  ;  a  Mr.  Beauvais,  the  richest  man  here, 
possessing  eighty  slaves,  was  the  purchaser.  The 
fort  on  the  bluffs  across  the  Kaskaskia  River,  of 
wooden  timbers,  was  burnt  down  in  Octobei-,  1766. 
An  officer  and  twenty  soldiers  are  now  quartered  in 
the  village." 

Pitman  does  not  give  the  mimber  of  houses  in  the 
village  nor  its  population,  but  allowing  each  of  the 
sixty-five  families  a  house  to  itself,  there  could  not 
have  been  more  than  seventy,  and  the  population,  say 
five  hundred  whites  and  slaves,  a  very  large  estimate. 


VARIOUS  VILLAGES.  45 

"CAHOKIA. 

"The  village  '  Kaokias,'  twenty  leagues  from 
Kaskaskia,  was  the  first  settlement  in  the  country 
by  a  few  French  Canadians ;  it  is  the  next  in  size 
to  Kaskaskia,  and  contains  forty-live  dwellings  and  a 
church.  A  house  in  the  village  where  a  few  soldiers 
Avere  kept  Avas  called  the  '  garrison.'  " 

Pitman  did  not  give  its  population  —  it  was  but  a 
few  hundred. 

"  PRAIKIE    DU    ROCIIER 

"Fourteen  miles  north  of  Kaskaskia  is  a  village  of 
twenty-two  houses  and  the  same  number  of  families, 
with  a  little  chapel." 

"saint   PIITLLIPrE, 

"Five  miles  north  from  Fort  Chartres  on  the  road 
to  Cahokia,  has  "  about  sixtt;en  deserted  houses  and 
a  small  church  still  standing,  all  having  been  deserted 
in  17G5,  the  inhabitants  crossing  over  to  the  French 
side,  leaving  only  the  captain  of  the  militia,  who  was 
compelled  to  remain,  having  a  grist  and  saw  mill  which 
he  could  not  dispose  of." 

"  FORT   CHARTRES   VILLAGE 

"  Was  the  seat  of  government,  and  in  the  year  1764 
contained  forty  families  in  the  village  adjoining  the 
fort,  and  a  parish  church." 


46  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  In  the  next  year,  1765,  when  the  English  received 
possession  of  the  country,  they  all,  with  the  exception 
of  three  or  four  families,  abandoned  their  houses  and 
removed  over  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
choosing- to  continue  under  the  French  government." 

"  The  first  fort  was  built  in  1720;  rebuilt  as  now 
in  175G."  (In  1772  the  inundation  caused  the  fall 
of  the  west  wall  and  two  bastions  ;  the  fort  was  then 
abandoned,  and  the  British  garrison  removed  to  Fort 
Gage  at  Kaskaskia,  wdiich  then  became  the  seat  of 
government.) 

Capt.  Pitman  was  a  man  of  ability,  for  which 
reason  he  was  selected  by  Gen' I  Gage  for  his  mission, 
in  which  it  so  happened  he  was  engaged  at  the  very 
moment  that  St.  Louis  had  just  sprung  into  exist- 
ence. His  report,  therefore,  furnishes  conclusive 
])roof  that  St.  Louis,  then  in  her  infancy  of  barely 
two  years,  was  already  in  every  respect,  —  size,  pop- 
ulation, etc.,  —  in  advance  of  what  Kaskaskia  had 
ever  attained  in  her  most  i)rosperous  period,  and  that 
the  old  traditions  of  large  po})ulation,  great  wealth, 
etc.,  etc.,  so  freely  bestowed  upon  her  in  her  early 
days,  were  neither  more  nor  less  than  the  gratuitous 
exaggerations  of  visionaries. 

Judge  Lefebvre  acted  in  his  official  capacity  as 
the  colleague  of  St.  Ange  in  the  first  few  land  con- 
cessions but  for  a  few  months,  as  we  find  his  last 
official   act  as  such  on  August  15,  17G6,  when  he 


PUBLIC  PROPEUTY.  47 

was  appointed  keeper  of  the  king's  warehouse, 
St.  Ange  having-  brought  ovcv  from  Fort  Chartres 
with  his  men  the  military  stores  left  there  by  Capt. 
Neyon  de  Villiers.  Labusoiere  then  assumed  Lefe- 
bvre's  place  as  the  associate  in  the  government  with 
Capt.  St.  Ange,  and  ai)pears  to  have  discharged  the 
functions  of  that  office  almost  exclusively  until  the 
assumption  of  the  Spanish  authority  in  May,  1770, 
as  all  the  official  documents  are  in  his  handwriting 
or  executed  in  his  presence,  the  signature  of  St. 
Auge  appearing  but  rarely. 

From  the  following  document  found  in  the  archives 
we  k'arn  that  Judge  Lefcbvre  Desbruisseau  died  on 
April  3,  17G7. 

"In  the  year  one  thousand,  seven  humlred  and  sixtj'-seven, 
the  seventh  of  April  ut  8  o'clock,  a.  m. ,  l)efore  Joseph  Labus- 
ciere,  Deputy  of  the  Attorney-General  of  the  King  in  Illinois, 
acting  as  judge  in  the  place  of  Judge  Lefebvre,  deceased  ;  in  pres- 
ence of  j\Ir.  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive,  Captain,  commanding  on  the 
French  side  of  the  Illinois,  of  Mr.  De  Bergueville,  otlicer  of  in- 
fantry of  this  garrison,  and  Mr.  Laclede  Liguest,  merchant,  all 
residing  at  the  post  of  St.  Louis. 

"  In  virtue  of  our  act  of  placing  the  seals  on  the  king's  ware- 
house on  the  tliird  of  this  month,  in  coi's-equence  of  the  death  on 
that  day  of  Mr.  Lefebvre,  we  repaired  Uiis  day  to  the  house  of 
Laclede,  accompanied'  by  Mr.  Peri,  scrivener  of  this  place,  to 
remove  our  seals  from  the  door  of  the  stoi  e,  which  we  had  left  in 
the  cliarge  and  care  of  Mr.  Lefebvre  Dost  ruisseau,  where  being 
arrived  and  summoning  the  said  Desbruisseau,  Louis  Deshetres, 
Indian  interpreter  and  Louis  Chancellicr,  inhabitant,  as  witnesses, 
we  caused  the  door  to  be  oi)ened  with  the  key  which  had  been 
sent  us  I)}-  Mr.  St.  Ange,  and   immediatel3'  proceeded  to  the  de- 


48 


ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 


scription  of  the  effects  and  mcrchnndisc  wliich  we  found  in  said 
store,  shown  and  placed  before  us  hy  said  Lefebvre  Deabruisseau 
as  follows,  and  which  we  signed  on  the  same  day  and  year,  said 
Dcshetres  saying  he  coultl  not  sign  it." 


"First:  — 

G131  pounds  of  wool. 

14  grenadiers'  guns. 

10  htilf  axes. 

27  tomaliawks. 

14  ll)s.  dainiigeil  powder. 

A  block  of    copper    to  press 
paper. 

15  minots  of  corn. 
40  minots  more. 

844  lbs.  of  balls. 
1000  lbs.  of  bar  lead. 

2  pairs  small  copper  scales. 
Cl<;  dog-head  knives. 
13i  dozen  butcliers'  knives. 

A   case  of    surgeons'    instru- 
ments. 
59  blankets,  two  and  a  half  point. 
9  three  point  <lo. 
6  do.  cazernde. 
2  old  uniform  coats. 
10  shirts,  gingham. 

4  boxes  with  handles  to  draw. 
lOG  shirts  of  Morley. 

2G  white  do.  damaged. 

5  necklaces. 

2  boat-sails  with  their  ropes. 

3  augurs. 
21  pickaxes. 

3  beef  tongues. 

Au  old  chafing  dish. 
2  saw  handles. 
13  lbs  of  sheet  lead. 
25  lbs.  nails  assorted. 
2  Fleur  de  Lis  stamps. 
A  draw  knife. 
A  hand  saw, 
A  coil  of  rope. 


2  lbs.  of  vcrmllliou. 
127  small  bells. 

3  Calumet  pipes. 
3  Ib.s.  of  steel. 

8  pairs  of  wooden  scales. 
A  flail. 

10  lbs.  ol  thread. 

t!  old  pewter  basins. 

A  pewter  dish. 
2  mortars  and  pestles. 

A  copper  quart  measure. 
8  tin  measures. 
2  padlocks,  no  keys. 
2  copper  stew-pans  and  old  cof- 
fee-pot. 
2  tin  funnels. 

An  old  lantern. 
2  small  copper  kettles. 

1  brass  quoit. 

6  pair  iron  shackles  and  bars. 

2  pair  handcuffs  and  bars. 

7  spades. 

8  chisels. 

13J  pair  andirons,  good  and  bad. 
1500  gun  flints. 
A  tackle. 
A  chimney  crane  and  hooks. 

11  cannon  balls. 

3  boxes  of  screws. 
2  hammers. 

2  pair  tongs.  ' 

6  Arc  shovels. 

A  ladle. 

A  pair  of  pincers. 
2  hatchets  and  3  tomahawks. 

A  poor  tripod. 
16  pairs  of  hinges. 


INVENTOUY  OF  PUBLIC  PROFEBTY. 


49 


6  lb!<.  o(  Iron  wire. 
20  ells  Llinlmurg. 
'X^  )'ll8  of  same. 

2  dozen  don-head  knives. 
18J  pieces  red  binding  tape. 

4^  gruce  of  awls. 

A  piece  of  red  tape. 
72  boxwood  combs. 

6  hooked  knlvcH. 

2  hyde  scrapers. 

3  hyde  needles. 
6  (ilralets. 

487  gun  screws. 
18  flies  assorted. 
Ifi  pair  scissors. 
2^  lbs.  ciindlewlck. 
697  ttre  steels. 
31  awls. 
J  lb.  Vermillion. 

4  boat  awnings. 
An  ell  Jieasure. 

2  bayonets  and  scabbards. 
An  old  sword  for  a  sergeant. 
324  lbs.  of  rope. 

A  pair  of  oaken  scales   with 
iron  beams. 
322  large  springs. 
340  gun-pan  covers. 
340  small  bells. 
25!)  gun  cocks. 
1 1  old  gun  plates. 
380  lbs.  wrought  Iron  in  22  parcels. 

13i  Ib.s.  weight  of  lead. 
30'J  gun  nuts. 
22  weights. 

A  tarpaulin. 
7  tarred  barrel  covers. 
40  bags,  good  and  bad. 
G  l)arrels  rum,  short  48  quarts. 
A  grapnel. 


After  diligent  search  we  were  told  there  was  nothing  more,  and 
should  anything  more  be  found,  said  Mr.  St.  Ange  promised  to 

4 


7  small  bolts. 

70  lbs.  of  old  Iron. 

2  copper  kettles. 

A  piece  of  Fuller's  earth. 

8  broad-axes. 

9  small  pick-axes. 

62  lbs.  fine  beads. 

An  axe. 

A  broken  padlock. 

42  lbs.  Spanish  white. 

80  lbs.  of  steel. 

A  brass  candlestick. 

26  pewter  candle  moulds. 

247  lbs.  of  bar  Iron. 

A  stack  for  arms. 

4  boat  sails. 

The  following    was    at    the     guard- 

houKe  : — 

4  large  couches. 

I  middling  do. 

4  straw  beds. 

1  middling  do. 

A  table. 

2  benches. 

A  kneading  trough. 

A  bread-board. 

A  brass  candlestick. 

A  table-cloth. 

8  plates,  knives  and  forks. 

A  Sentinel's  capot. 

2  linen  bread  cloths. 

2  iron  kettles. 

A  brass  lamp. 

A  large  brass  kettle  and  cover 

A  spade. 

A  hatchet. 

2  picks. 

4348  beads  of  porcelain. 

50  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

«i(M  it  to  tlip  inventory,  and  evorythins  v/nn  loft  in  the  rare  of  Mr. 
St.  Ange,  to  ji;ivu  an  iicomtiit  of  the  .suinc  to  tli«  orderur  of 
Louisiuna  and  wi;  hI^uu'.I  it  uccuordingiy. 

St.  Anok, 

F.    I»K   BKK(iirF.VII.I.K, 
LkKKBVUK    I)KZIU'I!JHKAU, 
ClIANOKM.IKR, 

Lahi'scikkk, 
Pkui, 

LaCI.KDK    LiUl'EST. 


Ill  the  month  of  Aj)!*!!,  17(55,  bt'Toiv  the  t'Htjiblish- 
mcnt  of  any  fji-ovfrnment  here,  :i  bojit  loaded  with 
merchandise  foi-  the;  Indian  ti-ade  of  tiie  Missonri 
River,  undei'  the  charge  and  manag-enient  of  one 
Joseph  Calve,  a  clerk  of  the  owners,  Messrs.  John 
Datchnrnt  and  Louis  Viviat,  merchants  of  St.  Gene- 
vieve, was  seized  by  employes  of  the  g-overnment,  at 
the  instance  of  Pierre  Laclede,  as  violatin*^  the  laws 
of  the  Indian  ti'ade,  and  moi'e  especially  the  (daims 
of  the  firm  of  Maxent,  Laclede  &  Co.  to  the  exclu- 
sive trade  with  the  Indians  of  the  Missoui'i.  She 
was  brought  to  St.  Louis,  an  inventoiy  taken  of  her 
cargo,  and  the  merchandise  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Alexandei'  Langlois  for  safe  keeping.  These  gen- 
tlemen bi'ought  their  case  before  the  Superior  Coimcil 
at  N^ew  Orleans,  who  decided  it  against  Laclede  and 
company,  condenming  them  to  pay  for  the  goods, 
with  costs,  etc.  This  second  inventory  was  then 
taken  on  April  30,  17(37,  to  ascertain  the  amount  to 


CAl'TUKK  OK  TKADINO  BOAT.  51 

luj  piii'l  l>y  Xfaxc'iit  and  LacltMlo,  which  amountt'd  to 
(kIS.')  livivH  8  Hols,  i'(iual  to  $1, 'JOT. 

••  In  the  yt'iir  Hcvi'iitpcii  Iminlrt'il  atnl  sixty-sfvon,  A|>ril  .'t(»,  iit 
H  o'riock  11.  111.,  I»(rforo  .Foscpli  liiihiisi-itMc,  tlH>  (Uipiity  of  thu 
iittonicy-j^enprul  of  the  king,  actiiiK  as  jikI;^*!  in  the  royal  Jur- 
isdiction of  tiic  Illinois,  on  the  petition  of  .Mr.  IMcrro  Luclcde 
Lij{ii('Ht,  merrhant  on  tlin  French  side  of  the  country,  an  w\\  in 
h\n  own  name  au  in  tliat  of  Maxcut  aitd  Coin|)any,  desiring  to  have 
a  re-examination  in  the  shape  of  nn  inventory  of  the  merehandise 
tiiiit  had  been  seized  on  his  petition,  tlie  —  day  of  April,  ITti.'i,  as 
having  the  exclusive  eontiol  of  the  trade  from  Mr.  D'Ahltadie, 
ConnnisHioner  of  Louisiana,  witii  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
deficit  which  may  l)e  found  in  said  merchandise  since  the  date  of 
the  seizure  to  tliiH  day,  ami  their  pnsent  actual  value,  and  in 
conformity  to  our  decree  of  yesterday,  we  have  this  day  repaired 
to  .Mr.  Tayon's,  the  custodian  of  the  said  goods,  accompanied  l»y 
Messrs.  Joseph  Pupin,  William  Bissette  and  Alexander  Rondeau 
(Langlois),  all  merchants*  of  .St.  Louis,  arbitrators  and  referee 
olliciiilly  appointed  in  this  jurisdiction,  where  we  summoned  the 
said  custo<lian  to  produce  the  goods  that  had  been  j)laceil  in  his 
special  care,  which  he  immediately  did,  and  before  proceeding, 
iiaving  (lualifled  the  arbitrators  to  faithfully  ascertain  the  waste 
and  deflcienc}'  liiey  may  have  sustained  since  the  date  of  the  seiz- 
ure by  their  respective  alllrmations,  they  proceeded  to  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duty,  in  the  following  manner,  viz. :  (here  follows 
the  VMluation),  which  h.aving  completed  is  duly  signed  on  the 
same  day  as  above. 

"JOSEI'H    PaI'IN, 

"  William  Bissette, 

IIIH 

"Alexanueu  X  Lanoloi*,  d(7  RoNDEAi;, 

CK088 

"  In  presence  of  Joseph  Labusciere." 
[.S'ee  Archives  May  25, 1767,  Vol.  4.  ] 


*  Every  man  engaged  in  trmliny  of  any  kiml,  a  pcdilkr  with  his  jjack 
on  his  back,  or  a  couple  of  fellows  swapping  knives,  styled  tlieniselveH 
mercliaiits. 


52  ANNALS  OF  HT.  LOUIH. 

Iluviuj^  HOW  jilmoMt  built  up  our  primitive  little 
villa;^;*',  and  Hot  on  foot  itH  tiiuiporary  ^ovtirnuu-nt, 
we  will  proceed  in  itH  aiinalH  hy  the  recital,  in  their 
chronological  order,  of  huc!  eventH  and  occurrenceH 
aH  may  be  found  of  HufHcient  intercHt  to  be  recorded. 

The  fii'Ht  event  of  this  nature  wan  the  ari'ival, 
towardH  the  cIohc  of  the  year  1707,  of  Capt.  Fran- 
cIhco  KioH  (auffliciHcd  Kivers),  of  the  8|)aniHb  Hervice, 
with  a  company  of  Home  twenty-five  men  Hcnt  uj) 
fiom  New  OrleauH  by  (Jount  Ulloa  to  receive  poH- 
HCMHion  of  and  eHtablJHh  the  SjJaniHh  authority  on  the 
wcHt  Hide  of  this  upper  region  of  the  MiHHiH8ij)pi. 

His  Homewhat  unexpected  arrival  wan  a  source 
of  much  annoyance  and  diHsatiHfaction  to  the  j)eople 
of  oui"  new  little  place,  who,  from  the  tardincHH  of 
the  S[)anish  in  eHtal)lishiii<^-  their  authority  over  their 
new  acquisition,  —  so  diffei'ent  from  the  example  net 
tlunn  by  their  British  uel^hborM  on  the  east  side  of 
the  I'iver,  who  lost  no  time  in  takin«^  immerliate  i)os- 
session  of  theii-  side  after  the  treaty  of  cession, — 
were  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  cession  was  to 
be  merely  a  nominal  one  for  political  reasons,  not  to 
be  carried  practically  into  effect,  and  that  they  would 
in  a  little  time  be  retroceded  to  their  legitimate  sov- 
ereign, the  French  king. 

Ca|)t.  Rios,  finding  his  advent  here  inopportune 
and  distasteful  to  the  people  of  the  i)lace,  who 
received  them  as  unwelcome  intruders,  and  finding 


CAIT,  UIOS'  AKKIVAL.  fjlj 

IK)  pliicc  ill  which  to  (|iiai't('i'  his  incii  (for  hear  it  in 
iniiid  that  the  viMap'  at  that  tiiiu>  contained  hut  sonu' 
ii(>v(>nty  houHCH  and  cabiiiH  in  which  to  Nhrlter  at  leant 
double  that  nuiiiher  of  fainilieH,  henideM  all  the  Ninn^li> 
Htraj,'^lerM  that  had  flocked  to  the  phu'c  from  the 
other  side  to  eHcape  IJritish  rnli"),  judieiouHly  con- 
cluded, to  avoid  ('(dlihion,  to  erect  at  Honic  Huitahle 
|>oint  In  ItH  near  vicinity  a  fort  an<l  ;:farriHon  which 
wouhl  serve,  not  only  an  prcHcnt  ([uarterH  for  his 
men,  hut  an  a  future  defense  against  any  attempttd 
inroad  on  the  part  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  country. 
With  this  view  he  selected  an  elevated  rocky  bluff 
on  the  south  nide  of  the  Missouri  Kiver,  at  a  short 
distance  above  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi,  at 
the  distance  of  fourteen  miles  directly  north  of  the 
village. 

To  this  j)oint  he  proceeded  at  once  to  remove  his 
men  and  to  commence  the  erection  of  his  fort,  which 
was  nearly  com[)leted  in  the  course  of  the  year  iTOH, 
and  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  "  Fort  Prince 
Charles,"  in  honor  of  the  son  of  his  sovereign,  who, 
after  the  death  of  his  father  in  1788,  succeeded  him 
on  the  throne  of  Spain  as  Charles  the  Foui-th.* 


*  The  selection  ol  this  point  by  Capt,  Rlos,  exhibited  lils  jiulg- 
ment,  us  It  was  the  Hame  subseciuently  selected  by  Gen.  James  Wilkin- 
son, United  States  army,  In  1805,  as  the  headquarters  In  the  west  of  the 
United  States  troops,  and  so  remained  for  many  years,  unMl  the  establi<>h- 
raent  of  Jefferson  Barracks  In  1826. 


54  ANNALS  OF  ST,  LOUIS. 

Capt.  Francis  Rlo.s  brought  ii[>  with  him  fi'oin  New 
Oi'leans  :  — 

Don  Fernando  de  Gomez,  liis  Lieut. 
Don  Joseph  Barchis,  a  cadet  engineer. 
Doct.  Jno.  B.  Valieau,  surgeon. 
Charles  Covos,  orderly  sergeant. 
IVIiciiael  Viguera,  corimral. 
Manuel  Martini,        do. 
Benjn.  Moureau,      do. 
Lion,  do. 

Carlos  Ilerrara,  drummer. 
Jourdan,  cook  and  baker. 
Francis  Tiendra,        soldier. 
Jean  Mignon,  do. 

Gaspard  Deraarque,  do. 
Dominic  Auterre,  do. 
Antonio  Tagouais,  do. 
Alex'r  Peguoles,  do. 

Pierre  Perez,  do. 

Jos.  Nich's  Navarro,    do. 
And  a  few  others  whose  names  are  not  found  in  the  archives. 

During  the  period  that  Rios'  company  were  at 
"  Fort  Charles  the  Prince,"  they  were  under  the 
command  of  his  Lieutenant  Gomez,  who  fi-om  the 
testimony  of  witnesses  in  several  trials  that  occurred 
there  that  summer,  must  have  exercised  great  severity 
and  oppression  over  the  men,  Rios  spending  much  of 
his  time  in  St.  Louis. 


A  JUDICIAL  INQUIRY.  55 

"  An  iiKiuir}'  made  by  me,  Mr.  Jonoph  LabuHcicre,  king's 
attorne>',  acting  as  judge  and  deputy  of  the  commander  of 
Louisiana:  — 

"  On  the  petition  of  Micliael  Tiille,  a  stone  mason,  working  at 
Fort  Charles  tlie  Prince,  near  the  moutli  of  the  Missouri  River, 
accused  and  lield  in  irons  in  the  i)rison  at  the  French  post  of  St. 
Louis,  on  the  complaint  brought  against  him  by  Monr.  De  Rive 
for  Don  Fernando  de  Gomez,  Lieut,  at  the  fort.  Having  re- 
paired to  the  place  this  June  15,  \7('>H,  I  proceeded  on  the  follow- 
ing day  to  take  the  depositions  of  the  following  witnesses,  through 
the  interpretations  of  John  liap.  Dehetres  and  William  Boyer,  aa 
follows,  viz. : 

Francis  Solid,  sailor,  a  Catholic. 

Antoiue  de  Thaguas,  mason,        do. 

Charles  Herrara,  drummer,  do. 

Wm.  Boyer  his  X  cross,  sailor,    do. 

Antoinc  X  Dargaud,  blacksmith. 

Josoph  X  Segue,  stonecutter. 

Pierre  X  Perez,  stonecutter. 

"  Being  then  about  to  proceed  to  take  the  depositions  of  the 
soldiers  within  the  fort,  I  Avas  unable  to  do  so  for  want  of  an  in- 
terpreter, after  requesting  Mr.  Joseph  Barelas,  a  cadet  officer, 
Jno.  B.  Dcshetres,  Indian  interpreter,  the  king's  baker,  and  one 
Boyer,  a  sailor,  who  severally  refused  to  interpret  and  retired  into 
the  fort,  also  declining  to  sign  their  refusal  to  act.  Seeing  this  I 
withdrew,  having  finished  the  declaration  at  the  fort,  June  16, 
17G8. 

"  JOSEl'H    LaBUSCIERE." 

The  substance  of  the  testimony  of  the  above  wit- 
nesses was  to  the  foliowin<^  effect :  — 

''Trille  was  a  Spaniard,  a  stone  mason,  at  work  on  the  fort. 
One  day  he  had  a  piece  of  fresh  fish  on  the  ground  within  the 
fort;  a  corporal.  Lion,  passing  along,  said  the  lish  smelt  bad,  and 


56  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

ordered  it  to  be  thrown  out.  Trille  objected,  saying  it  smelt  no 
worse  than  tlie  salt  meat  issued  to  them  in  tlieir  rations,  this 
provoked  the  corporal,  iiot  words  ensued,  wiien  another  corporal, 
Moreau,  attempted  to  knock  Trille  down  with  the  butt  of  his 
musket ;  at  this  moment  Lieutenant  Gomez  came  on  the  ground, 
and  without  knowing  anything  of  the  cause  of  the  fracas,  ordered 
Trille  to  be  handcuffed  and  sent  a  prisoner  to  St.  Louis,  at  the 
same  time  kicking  and  striking  him." 

All  the  witnesses  examined,  testified  to  the  good 
character  of  Trille,  as  a  peaceable  man  and  steady 
workman.  One  of  the  witnesses  closely  questioned 
as  to  the  cause  of  the  ill-will  displayed  by  Gomez 
towards  Trille,  had  no  doubt  it  arose  from  the  fact 
that  Trille  Avhen  he  came  to  work  at  the  fort,  brought 
with  him  from  St.  Louis,  a  small  keg  of  brandy,  from 
which  he  occasionally  gave  his  fellow-workmen  a 
small  dram ;  this  was  so  much  out  of  Gomez's 
pocket,  who  besides  being  the  lieutenant-command- 
ant was  also  purveyor  (sutler). 

;N"othing  further  appears  in  regard  to  the  affair, 
Trille  being  released  from  confinement. 


"An  inquiry  made  by  me,  Joseph  Labusciere,  acting  as  judge 
and  deputy  of  the  commander  of  Louisiana,  and  proxy  of  the 
king's  attorney-general  of  the  Illinois. 

On  the  petition  of  IVIr.  Joseph  Barolas,  a  cadet  engineer  of  the 
garrison  of  "Fort  Charles,  the  Prince,"  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Missouri,  against  Don  Fernando  de  Gomez,  lieutenant  command- 
ing at  the  fort,  and  Charles  Covos,  first  sergeant  of  the  garrison. 
By  virtue  of  orders  from  Mr.  De  Rive,  civil  and  military  governor 
of   the   Missouri  section,  we  repaired  on  said  date  to  the  fort 


A  JUDICIAL  INQUIRY.  57 

accompanied  by  M.  Milony  Duraldc,  to  act  as  inti'ri)rcter,  I  not 
understanding  the  Sj)anish  language,  wiiere  on  my  arrival,  I 
caused  to  appear  before  me :  — 

1.  Francis  Soleil. 

2.  Carlos  Ilcrrara,  drummer. 
;3.  Ante.  Victorine,  blacksmith. 
4.  Michel  Peguero,  corporal. 

.').  AVm.  Boyer,  caulker. 

(>.  Francois  Tiendra,  soldier. 

7.  Manuel  Martine,  corporal. 

8.  Joseph  Marin,  carpenter. 

9.  Jean  ]\Iignon,  soldier. 

10.  Gaspard  de  Marqua,     do. 

11.  Francisco  Poutau. 

12.  Jean  Marie  Moulin. 

13.  Antoine  Tagouais,  mason. 

14.  Dominic  Auterre,  soldier. 
Ifj.  Joseph  Segue,  stone-cutter. 

16.  Benito  Maureau,  corporal. 

17.  Francois  Sespedes,  carpenter. 

18.  Alex'r  Pegnoles. 

19.  Pierre  Perez,  stone  mason. 

20.  Man'l  Aug'n  Abreon,  carpenter. 

21.  Jourdan,  baker. 

22.  Nicholas  Navarro. 

23.  Charles  Coves,  sergeant. 

These  witnesses  being  all  sworn,  testified  successively  to  the 
same  purport,  that  in  their  frequent  disputes  Gomez  was  in  the 
habit  of  applying  to  Barelas  offensive  epithets,  as  horse,  mule, 
animal,  etc.,  which  Barelas  could  not  resent,  Gomez  being  his 
superior  officer.  They  all  agreed  that  Barelas  was  faithful  and 
trusty  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties. 
"AuorsT  8,  17C8. 

Milony  Di'Ralde," 
Joseph   Labisciere." 


68  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOULS. 

DOCT.    JXO.    «.    VALLEAL'. 

IMiis  gi'iitleiiian,  ii  native  of  France  from  La  Ro- 
chelle,  in  the  Spanish  service,  came  up  to  8t.  Louis 
from  New  Orleans  with  Capt.  Rios,  as  sui'g-eon 
of  his  company,  arriving-  here  late  in  the  year  1767. 
Expecting-  to  be  stationed  here  for  some  time,  and 
houses  difficult  to  be  obtained,  immediately  after  his 
arrival  he  made  application  foi*  a  lot  in  the  village 
upon  which  to  build  one  for  his  family,  whom  he  had 
left  in  France.  According-ly  he  received  a  grant 
from  St.  Ange,  dated  January  2,  1708,  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  our  present  block  No.  Gl,  being-  120 
French  feet  on  the  west  side  of  Second  by  150  deep 
west  u})  the  hill  on  the  south  side  of  Pine  (the  quarter 
block  on  which  stood  the  Mechanics'  Bank) .  After 
Valleau  received  the  grant  of  his  lot,  it  was  several 
months  before  he  found  any  one  to  undertake  to 
build  him  a  house,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  workmen 
in  that  curly  day  of  the  village,  finally,  he  entered 
into  an  agreement  on  April  23,  1768,  with  one  Peter 
Tousignan,  a  carpenter,  "  for  a  house  of  one  story, 
eighteen  feet  long  by  fourteen  wide  on  the  outside, 
of  posts  set  in  the  ground,  with  a  partition  of  small 
square  posts  in  the  center  to  divide  it  into  two  rooms 
of  9  by  14  feet,  xxouse  to  be  shingled,  with  a  stone 
chinmey  in  the  center,  with  two  doors,  one  outside 
and  one  between  the  rooms,  a  window  in  each  room 


DOCT.  VALLEAU.  59 

with  shutters,  floored  and  ceiled  witli  hewn  cotton- 
wood,  the  whole  to  be  completed  by  the  15th  of  July. 
Foi- which  Doct.  Yalleau  is  to  pay,  when  completed, 
the  sum  of  sixty  silver  dollars,  and  to  furnish  all  the 
iron  and  nails  necessary  for  the  house,  but  nothing 
else." 

The  agreement  drawn  ui)  by  Labusciere  is  signed 
by  Vallean  and  Tousignan's  X  mark,  and  Avitnessed 
by  Lal)usciere. 

The  house  was  never  built  —  why,  does  not  appear. 
The  lot  of  Joseph  Calve,  adjoining  Yalleau' s  on  the 
south,  of  the  same  size,  120  by  I.IO  feet,  with  a  small 
log  house  of  10  feet  square,  was  purchased  by  Yal- 
leau September  20,  1708,  at  a  public  sale  by  the  gov- 
ernor to  pay  the  debts  of  Calve,  who  had  absconded, 
for  the  sum  of  six  hundred  livres  —  $120.  Yalleau 
then  owned  the  front  from  Chestnut  to  Pine  —  240 
feet  French  measure. 

Doct.  Yallean,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  as 
sui'geon  of  the  Spanish  troops  here,  had  to  make 
frequent  tri[)s  back  and  forth  to  the  garrison  on  the 
Missouri,  Avhere  the  troops  were  then  building  the 
fort.  T^owards  the  close  of  November,  being  seri- 
ously ill,  and  finding  his  end  a])i)roaching,  in  con- 
formity to  a  custom  almost  universally  followed  by 
devout  Catholics  here  at  that  day,  he  executed  his 
will  on  November  23d,  and  expired  on  the  following" 
day,  a  young  man  scarcely  in  his  prime,  surviving 


GO  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

l)ut  oiH'  wliort  year  his  a<lvt!iit  to  the  place.  lie  was 
but  one  of  miinerous  others  who  fell  vietinis  by 
exposure  to  the  deleterious  intluenees  ineidental  to 
all  newly  settled  countries  in  certain  latitudes,  par- 
ticularly on  water-con I'ses. 

So  universally  was  it  the  custom  at  that  day  in 
these  colonies  for  a  sick  person  to  execute  his  will 
;tnd  conunend  his  soul  to  his  Maker  that  the  man 
who  died  without  haviuf^  done  so  was  deeuKid  to 
have  ne<^lected  one  of  his  most  important  religious 
duties.  It  mattered  little  whether  he  possessed 
much  or  no  prope"ty  whatever  to  dispose  of,  the  will 
appeared  to  be  essential  to  entitle  him  to  sepulture, 
with  all  the  solemnities  of  the  Holy  Mother  Church, 
in  consecrated  ground. 

The  will  of  John  B.  Valleau  was  the  first  one 
executed  in  St.  Louis.  I  introduce  it  in  extenso  to 
exhibit  the  usual  form  and  style  of  such  documents 
in  those  early  times  of  the  place  :  — 

WILL   OF    DOCT.    VALLEAU. 

"  Before  the  royal  notary  in  the  Illinois,  province  of  Louisiana, 
in  presence  of  the  hereinafter  named  witnesses,  was  personally 
present,  Mr.  John  B.  Valleau,  a  senior  surgeon  of  his  Catholic 
Majesty  in  the  Illinois,  being  now  at  the  post  of  St.  Louis,  in  the 
French  part  of  the  Illinois,  lying  sick  in  bed,  in  tiie  house  of  De- 
noyers',*  but   sound   of   mind,  memory,  and  understanding,  as 


*  Just  opposite  Valleau's,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Chestnut  and 
Second. 


D0C3T.  VALLEAU'S  WILL.  61 

appoara  to  the  undersigned  notary  and  witnesses,  who,  consider- 
iag  tliure  is  nothing  more  certain  than  death,  nor  nothing  so  un- 
certain as  itH  liour,  fearing  to  be  overtalten  by  it,  witliout  liaving 
disposed  of  the  few  goods  which  God  has  given  him  ;  tiie  said 
Jno.  B.  Valleau  lias  umde  and  dictated  to  the  notary,  in  tlie  pres- 
ence of  the  undersigned  witnesses,  his  last  will  and  testament, 
in  the  following  manner :  — 

"  First,  as  a  Christian  and  a  Catholic,  he  commends  his  soul  to 
God  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  beseecliing  His  divine 
bounty  by  the  merits  of  His  passion,  and  by  the  intercession  of  the 
Holy  Virgin,  of  Holy  St.  John  his  guardian,  and  of  all  the  saints 
of  the  celestial  court,  to  receive  it  among  the  blessed. 

"  The  said  testator  wishes  and  ordains  that  his  debts  should  be 
l)aid,  and  the  injuries  occasioned  by  him,  if  there  be  any,  shall  be 
relieved  by  his  executor  hereinafter  named. 

"  He  declarca,  wishes  and  ordains  that  Duralde,  employed  in 
the  Spanish  service,  residing  in  tliis  i)ost  of  St.  Louis,  whom  he 
appoints  his  executor,  shall  take  possession  of  all  his  effects,  situ- 
ated in  this  colony  of  the  Illinois  and  at  New  Orleans,  either  per- 
sonal or  real  property,  goods,  effects,  money,  or  anything 
belonging  to  the  said  testator  at  the  day  of  his  death,  in  whatever 
part  of  this  colony  they  may  be  situated,  without  any  reservation, 
appointing  the  said  Duralde  as  the  executor  of  this  will,  and 
praying  him  to  undertake  tlie  charge,  as  a  last  proof  of  friendship. 
"  The  said  Duralde  shall  make  a  good  and  exact  inventory  of 
the  property  belonging  to  said  testator,  shall  make  the  sale 
thereof,  and  the  monej'  arising  therefrom,  shall  be  sent  by  him  to 
Madame  Valleau,  or  to  her  children,  residing  at  La  liochelle  in 
the  house  of  Madame  Cholet,  Main  Street.  Revoking  all  other 
wills  and  codicils  which  I  might  have  made  before  this  present 
will,  to  which  I  adhere  as  being  my  last  will. 

"  Thus  made,  dictated  and  declared  b^'  the  said  testator,  by  the 
said  notary  and  witnesses,  and  to  him  read  and  reread,  he  declar- 
ing to  have  well  understood  it,  and  wishing  the  said  last  will  to  be 
executed  according  to  its  tenor. 

"Done  in  the  room  in  which  tlie  said  testator  keeps  his  bed, 
the  year  oue  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  the  23d 
of  November,  about  six  o'clock  p.  m.     In  the  presence  of  De 


62  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Rive,  civil  and  militivry  Governor  of  tlu?  Missouri  part,  bein(»  at 
present  in  tliis  post  of  St.  Louis,  and  of  Joseijli  I'apin,  trader,  of 
tiu"  same  plaoe,  witnesses  suiniuoned  for  tlie  purpose,  and  wlio 
liave  witlj  tlie  notary  and  tlie  testator,  signed  tljeso  presents,  after 
tlie  same  was  read,  eonfonnai)ly  to  t!ie  ordinance. 

"  FllANCISCO  RiVK, 

"Jos.   Papin, 

"  Labuscikuk,  Notary. 

"Vali-kau." 

Aftor  Viilleau's  death,  DiiraMc,  his  executor,  pro- 
ceeded lit  once  to  carry  out  his  behests.  He  sold  at 
public  sale  on  December  II,  17(H,  his  lot  of  2iO 
feet  front  on  Second  with  the  house ;  it  produced 
but  251  livres  — $50. 

If  Duralde  took  an  inventory  of  the  persoiuil 
pi'operty  it  is  not  on  record ;  he  may  have  sent  them 
to  N^ew  Orleans,  where  they  would  produce  a  lar^^er 
sum. 

AN   EARLY   AGREEMENT. 

"  Before  the  royal  notaiy  of  tlie  Illinois,  province  of  Louisi- 
ana, in  presence  of  the  hereinafter  named  witnesses,  was  present 
in  person,  Alexander  Langlais,  a  traveling  trader,  living  at  the 
post  of  St.  Louis,  who,  by  these  presents,  voluntarily  l)in(is  him- 
self to  Mr.  Antoine  Hubert,  merchant,  residing  at  the  post  of  St 
Louis,  to  g.)  up  for  liim,  as  his  clerk,  to  the  post  of  the  Little 
Osages,  to  trade  at  tiiat  place  his  goods  to  the  Indians,  and  man- 
age his  business,  and  do  all  for  the  advantage  of  said  Mr.  Hubert. 
.Said  Mr.  Langlais  i)romises  to  conduct  said  boat,  and  l)ring  iier 
back  after  said  trade  is  over,  as  also  the  peltries  he  may  have 
acquired,  and  give  all  the  care  to  avoid  loss  or  damage  to  said  Mr. 
Huliert;  and  will  start  from  said  port  of  St.  Louis  at  tlie  first 
requisition  of  Mr.  Hubert. 


AN  EARLY  AOKKKMKNT.  Cin 

•'TliiH  ugri't'int'iit  is  mtitU'  for  the  Miim  of  eight  hiiniired  livres 
ill  pi'llrifs,  lU'iT  skins,  or  heavor,  at  tlie  current  price  of  the  same 
at  this  poste,  wliidi  tliey  will  establish  on  the  lu-ltries  of  this  trade 
at  his  iiiTlviil  at  St.  Louis.  It  is  also  agreed  tiiat  in  case  said 
Langlais  will  take  a  negro  in  i)lace  of  tiie  said  sum  of  eight  hundreil 
livres  in  peltries,  said  Mr.  Hubert  obligates  himself  to  deliver  him 
one  on  the  arrival  of  tiie  convoy  from  New  Orleans  in  the  next 
spring,  Hai<l  negro  to  be  sound  and  free  from  all  disease,  in  which 
case  the  said  Langlais  will  rc[)ay  to  Mr.  IIul)ert  said  amount  of 
eight  hundred  livres  in  the  same  manner  in  peltries. 

"  And  said  Langlais  is  free  to  manage  tlic  said  lluliert's  busi- 
ness as  he  may  tliink  best,  promising  tlie  said  Mr.  Ilultert  to  do 
tlie  l)est  lie  can  for  iiim.  .Vll  the  foregoing  has  ix-en  agreed  to 
at  the  poste  of  St.  Louis,  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Ilulx-rt,  in  the  year 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  tiie  fourteenth  of 
August,  in  presence  of  Mr.  Chauvin,  mercliant,  and  .loseph 
Hloiuleau,  trader,  witnesses,  who  have,  with  said  Mr.  lluiiert  and 
said  notary,  signed  tliese  presents,  after  being  read,  the  said 
Langliiis  declaring  he  did  not  know  how  to  write. 

•'  Blonukau, 

"  Labuscikuk,  Notary, 

"  Hl'BEltT, 

"  Chauvin," 

Below   these    sigiuitufes,   in    the    handwriting    of 
Joseph  Lahuseiere,  is  written  :  — 

'*  Roudo  w.as  condemned  l)y  sentence  of  arl)itration  to  lose  liis 
wages,  not  having  carried  out  his  agreement.         Labuscieuk." 


AX    EARLY    BOND. 

"  Before  the  royal  notary  of  Illinois,  province  of  Louisiana,  iu 
presence  of  the  undersigned  witnesses,  was  personally  present 
.Joseph  Pouillot,  a  trader,  living  at  present  in  this  poste  of  St. 
Louis,  on  the  Frencli  side  of  tlie  Illinois  country,  who  acknowl- 
edges himself  indebted  to,  and  promises  to  pay  Francis  Ducliou- 


04  ANNAL8  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

qupt,  merchant  of  poste  of  Stc.  fJcnevieve,  at  present  in  St.  Lonifl, 
and  agreeing  to  tlie  .same,  tlic  sum  of  172  livrcs  nn<l  !)  sob  in 
peltries,  wliicli  tlie  said  Dticiiouqui-t  now  lends  and  delivers  to 
said  Pouillot,  who  borrows  the  same  to  liquidate  tiie  same  amount 
he  owes  to  Mr.  Lambert. 

"The  said  sum  of  172  livres  and  ."i  sols,  said  Pouillot  promises 
to  refund  to  said  Duelioucjuet,  or  to  his  order  of  tliis  date,  in  ail 
the  month  of  May  next  of  this  present  year,  under  penalty  of  all 
costs,  damages  and  interest.  And  to  secure  the  same  the  said 
Pouillot  now  places  in  the  possession  of  saiil  Duchoucjuet,  an  In- 
dian fenrile  slave  named  Aiigelique,  aged  about  twenty  years, 
pregnant  and  near  her  confinement,  whom  the  said  Ducliouquet 
accepts,  and  is  to  hold  as  securitj'  until  the  complete  payment  of 
the  aforesaid  sum  in  beaver  or  deer  skins,  inspected  and  valued 
at  the  current  rate.  Said  I)uchou(|uet  promises  to  take  <i;ood  care 
of  the  said  slave,  to  have  her  well  attended  to  in  her  confinement, 
or  any  other  sicknesses,  as  if  slie  was  his  own  property,  but  all  at 
the  expense  and  risque  of  said  Pouillot.  And  in  default  of  pay- 
ment by  said  Pouillot  within  the  time  specified,  the  said  Indian 
slave  to  become  the  property  of  said  Duchouquet,  without  any 
recourse  on  the  part  of  the  said  Pouillot. 

"  Done  in  office  at  the  post  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  this  March 
28tli,  1709,  in  presence  of  Messrs.  Dubreuil  and  Conde,  merchants 
of  the  place,  who  have,  together  with  the  said  Duchouquet  and 
the  notary,  signed  the  same  after  beinir  read,  the  said  Pouillot 
declaring  that  he  could  not  write. 

"  DiJ  Breuii., 

"  Du  Chouquet, 

"  AfGTE  Conde, 

"  Labhscieue,  Notary." 


17(38,  Xov.  1.  — Count  Ulloa  .sailed  tVoin  New 
Orleans  for  Havana,  where  he  arrived  on  December 
the  4th. 

176S-G9.  —  So  soon  as  Capt.  Rios  learned  of  the 


DKPAKTURE  OP  CAPT.  RIOS.  65 

(U'parture  of  Ulloa,  he  clcHecndiHl  with  hiH  mum  to 
New  Orloans,  lc'{iviii«jf  *' Fort  Charles  the  IVmee  " 
in  an  unfiniHhed  condition. 

Capt.  UioH  was,  as  were  all  the  Spanish  offiecrs  of 
the  period,  a  well  bred  gentleman,  and  althou<^h  in  the 
discharge  of  his  unpleasant  duty  he  was  considered 
somewhat  in  the  light  of  an  intruder,  yet  from  his 
prudent  course  in  quartering  his  men  at  a  distance 
from  the  village  to  avoid  possible  collisions  with  the 
people,  he  acquired  diu'iug  his  brief  stay  here  the 
good-will  and  respect  of  the  judicious,  and  made  a 
favorable  impression  on  them.  In  his  few  ollicial 
acts  he  modestly  styles  himself,  "  Coitunandaiit  of 
the  Missouri  portion  of  the  Illinois. ^^ 


17G9.  —  After  the  departure  of  Rios  from  St. 
Louis  we  find  nothing  in  our  archives  deserving  of 
especial  notice. 

17G9,  July24.— Lieut.-Gen.  Alexander  O'Reilly, 
with  2,000  choice  troops  of  Spain,  in  twenty-four 
ships  arrived  at  the  Balize,  and  proceeded  up  the 
river  to  New  Orleans. 

Aug.  18. —  O'Reilly  landed  at  five  o'clock  p.  m. 

Oct.  29.— O'Reilly,  after  a  stay  of  fourteen  months 
at  New  Orleans,  during  which  he  established  the 
Spanish  authority  in  the  country  and  organized  the 
new  government,  appointed  Don  Luis  Unzaga  his 

s 


66  ANNAL8  OF  8T.  LOUIH. 

HucceHHor,  ami  HiiiltMl  for  Spain,  K-aving  1,2(K)  rogu- 
larH.  Capt.  Pt^di'o  Pioniaw,  with  two  coniiJanit'H  of 
theLouiHiana  ivgiincnt,  had  hvvu  Hcnt  up  to  St.  Louis 
hy  O'Hrilly,  and  on  hiw  ari'ival  hvvv  aHHunied  au- 
thority in  Upper  Louiniuna  May  20,  1,770. 


MILITAUY    MATTKR8. 

Many  persouH  of  the  pivHont  day  have  but  very 
on'oneous  and  exa^^goratod  ideaH  in  regard  to  the 
luuneneal  strength  of  tht-  regular  military  foi-ees 
maintained  hy  the  three  powers,  England,  France 
and  Spain,  whose  colonists  then  possessed  the  Noi'th 
American  Continent.  In  the  French  and  Sjjanish 
service  a  full  comi)any  of  regulars  in  times  of  peace 
luunhcred  about  forty  men. 

I  ai)pend  hrietly  a  few  of  the  most  important 
military  affairs  in  our  early  history,  to  exemplify 
how  small  the  force  that  accomplished  them  :  — 

When,  in  176)3,  the  king  of  France  ceded  the  east 
side  of  this  Upper  Louisiana  to  Great  Bi'itain  and  the 
west  side  to  Spain,  he  appointed  Mons.  D'Abadie 
Director  General  (not  Governor,  as  he  has  been 
erroneously  called)  to  come  over  from  France  and 
hold  the  country  until  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish 
officials  to  receive  it,  with  instructions  to  retain  four 
companies,  and  send  back  to  France  all  the  rest 
of  the  regular  troops. 


MILITAICV  MATTKRH.  07 

When,  ill  the  ^Yint('l•  of  17().'M)4,  De  Villiers  nt 
Fort  Clmrtrc'8  received  adviceH  from  New  C)rh'aiiH 
of  the  eeHHioii  of  the  etiHt  Hide  to  En^ljind,  and 
iiiHtructioiis  to  coiK'eiitnite  all  IiIh  rc'^'-ularH  in  this 
upper  country  at  that  point,  prepared  to  ^ive  thciu 
iininedijite  poMWHHion,  an<l  then  to  evacuate  the 
country  and  l)rin<jf  his  men  down  to  New  Orleann, 
hJH  whole  force  concentrated  at  that  point  from  Ca- 
hokia,  YinceiuicH,  Fort  MaHsac,  added  to  thowe  at 
Fort  de  ChartrcH,  amounted  to  about  one  hundred 
men,  of  which  he  took  with  him  to  New  Oilcans 
in  the  early  Hunnner  about  eig-Jity,  leaving  Ca])t. 
St.  An«^e  with  about  twenty  to  await  the  arrival  of 
the  British. 

In  17G5,  after  the  failure  of  the  British  to  ascend 
the  jSIississippi  from  New  Orleans  in  17(51,  ()win<jc  to 
the  hostility  of  the  Natcliez  and  otlier  Indian  tribes 
on  the  Lower  ^NFississippi  who  op))oscd  their  passage, 
General  Gage,  the  British  Commandei-in-Chief  in 
North  America,  sent  out  Capt.  Sterling  with  one 
hamlnd  men  of  the  regiment  of  Scotch  lligldanders 
to  cross  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  build  their  boats 
at  Foi-t  Pitt,  descend  the  Ohio,  and  ascend  the  Mis- 
sippi  to  Fort  Chartres, — a  force  he  deemed  fully 
equal  to  the  dangerous  nature  of  the  service,  and 
which  was  verified  by  its  successful  accomi)li8hment. 

In  17GG,  when  Count  Ulloa  came  from  Cuba  to 
receive  possession  of  New  Orleans  from  the  French, 


68  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

he  brought  with  him  but  two  companies,  numbering- 
some  eighty  men,  of  which  he  distributed  a  portion 
east  towards  Mobile,  west  to  the  Arkansas  and  Red 
Rivers,  sending  Capt.  Rios  with  some  twenty  or 
twenty-five  men  to  St.  Louis,  and  retaining  with  him 
about  twenty  men.  When  Ulloa  landed,  the  whole 
French  force  there,  under  Capt.  Aubrey,  who  had 
succeeded  D'Abadie,  did  not  exceed  a  hundred  regu- 
lars. 

In  1778,  Clark  surprised  Kaskaskia  with  a  force  of 
but  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  men  all  told,  with 
which  he  had  descended  from  Pittsburgh,  made 
up  entirely  of  volunteers  from  Virginia,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Kentucky,  but  few,  if  any,  ever  having 
been  soldiers. 

In  1779,  when  the  British  Col.  Hamilton,  from 
Detroit,  recaptured  Vincennes  from  Capt.  Held,  he 
had  but  twenty  regulars  with  him,  the  balance  of  his 
force  being  Canadians  and  Indians. 

In  1797,  a  Col.  Howard,  of  the  Spanish  service, 
came  up  to  St.  Louis  from  N^ew  Orleans  with  a  force 
of  about  an  hundred  men,  then  almost  an  army, 
apprehending  trouble  with  the  Americans,  growing 
out  of  the  violation  by  the  Spanish  officials  at  New 
Orleans  of  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty  of  1795, 
guaranteeing  to  the  Americans  the  joint  navigation 
of  the  Lower  Mississippi. 

In  1804,  Capt.  Stoddard,  when  he  came  to  receive 


MILITARY  MATTERS.  69 

possession  of  this  Upper  Louisiana,  brought  with  him 
but  u  single  company  of  artillerists,  not  exceeding- 
forty  men. 

Finally,  in  the  same  year,  1804,  (Japts.  Lewis  and 
Clark's  expedition  from  St.  Louis  to  cross  the  Rocky 
Mountains  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  which  had  never  yet 
been  attempted  by  white  men,  comprised  but  thii-ty- 
one  men  all  told,  and  which  they  successfully  accom- 
plished, returning,  in  1806,  afte/  an  absence  of  two 
and  one-half  years,  with  thii-ty  of  the  party,  having 
lost  but  one  man,  and  he  by  an  accident. 


Capt.  St.  Ange  brought  over  with  him  fi'om  Fort 
Chartres  in  October,  1765,  the  first  soldiers  that 
came  to  St.  Louis  :  — 

Pierre  P'rancois  DeVolsay,  first  lieutenant  and  brevet  captain. 

Picotc  de  Belestre  and  F.  De  Bergueville,  lieutenants. 

Joseph  Bruno  Lefebvre  Desruisseau,  a  cadet  lieutenant. 

Pierre  Montarclj-  and  Philil^ert  Gagnon,  sergeants  in  1766. 

Nicholas  Auguste  Vincent,  a  sergeant  in  1767. 

Jean  De  Lage,  a  corporal  in  1767. 

D' amours  de  Louvieres,  Nicholas  Royer,  Michel  Rollette, 
Claude  Tinon.  Joan  Coraparios,  Lambert  Bonvarlet,  Blondin  Pion, 
Ayot,  St.  Marie,  Beauvais,  Desjardins,  Lamotte,  Langlais  and 
Marechal,  soldiers. 

These  were  French. 

Capt.  Francisco  Rios  brought  up  from  New  Or- 
leans in  1767 :  — 

Fernando  do  Gomez,  first  lieut.     Francis  Tienda,  private. 
Joseph  Barela,  a  cadet  engineer.     Jean  Mignon,  do. 


70 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


Toraaso  Covos,  Ist  sergeant, 
Francis  Soliol,  sergeant, 
Miguel  Piguera,  corporal, 
Manuel  Martini,  do. 
Benito  Moureau,  do. 
Carlos  Herrera,  drummer. 


Gaspard  De  Marque,  do. 
Dominieo  Auterre,  do. 
Jno.  M.  Houlino,  do. 
Alex.  Pegnoles  do. 
Joseph  N.  Navarre,  do. 
Jourdan,  the  baker. 


and  a  few  others  whose  names  are  not  of  record. 
These  were  Spanish,  and  returned  below  with  Rios 
in  17G9.     Dr.  Valleau  was  their  surgeon. 


I  append  the  names  of  some  of  the  early  soldiers 
found  in  the  archives  —  who  came  up  with  Piernas  in 
1770,  and  his  successors :  — 

Don  Antonio  De  Oro,  Piernas'  first  lieutenant,  acted  as  com- 
mandant in  Piernas'  occasional  absence. 

Diego  Blanco,  sorgeant,  1770,  afterwards  ensign  and  lieutenant. 

Juan  Purzada,  sergeant  1780, 
Louis  Richard,  soldier, 
Fernando  Lisoro,  sergeant,  1781, 
Joseph  Bermio, 
Pedro  de  Santos, 
Lopez  Godoy,  officer,  1783, 
1779,     Manuel     Gonzales     IMoro,    ser- 
geant, 1788. 


Joseph  A.  Hortiz,  corporal, 

Gonsales,  do. 

Eugenio  Alvarez,  soldier, 
Benito  Basquez,         do. 
Manuel  Escolera, 
Antonio  Cutian, 
Charles  Ouilf, 
Daniel  Appleby, 
Joachim  Perrara, 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


French  soldiers  who  came  over  with  St.  Ange,  and 
received  a  grant  of  a  lot  each,  and  built  for  himself 
each  a  house  :  — 

D'amours  deLouviercs,  in  17G5  ;  Pierre  Montardy,  176G  ;  Gag- 
non,  Royer,  Rollette,  Tinon,  Delage,  Comparios  and  Bonvarlet,  9. 


LOUISIANA  REGIMENT.  71 

The  following  bought  each  a  house  :  — 

Lou3.  Jos.  D' amours,  1773  ;  Jean  Olivier,  1776  ;  Tropcz  Ricard, 
1785;  Pedro  Torrico,  1785;  Joseph  Perez,  1788,  and  Pedro 
Gabino,  1790. 

Soldierw  inten-ed  in  the  cemetery,  fi-otn  the  regis- 
ter :  — 

1771.  Jan.  7.  Jno.    B.  Olivier,  1786.  Aug.  11.  Francois  Barrie, 

private.  private. 

1773.  Nov.   15.  Nicholas   Vin-  1789,  May  19.  Pedro  Ruiz,  do. 

cent,  sergeant.  1794.  March   17.  Franco   Ven- 

1773.  Nov.  22.  Jac  Bonvarlet,  tura,  private. 

corporal.  1797.  July  30.  Daniel  Appleby, 

1778.     July    27.     Jean    Com-  do. 

parios,  soldier.  1801.  Dec.   30.  Louis    Dubois, 

1778.  Nov.  G.  B.  Damvier,  do.  do,  aged  GO. 

1779.  June    28.     Benoit      de     1802.    Nov.    Franco    Lorenzo, 
Meru,  do.,  aged  45.  do.,  aged  44. 

1786.    Jan.    28.     Joseph      L.  Francois  Barrera. 

Crespo,  do.,  aged  68. 

THE   STATIOXARY   REGIMENT   OF    LOUISIANA. 

After  the  establishment  of  the  Spanish  authority 
in  Louisiana  in  17G9,  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  last 
of  the  French  troojjs  from  the  country,  General 
O'Reilly  assigned  one  of  the  Spanish  regular  regi- 
ments of  infantry  to  the  permanent  occupation  of 
the  country,  and  styled  it  the  "  Stationary  Regiment 
of  Louisiana."  This  regiment,  with  such  changes 
in  its  personnel  as  time  and  casualties  produce,  re- 
mained in  the  country  the  whole  of  the  thirty-five 


72  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

years  of  the  Spanish  domination,  and  they  were  the 
only  Spanish  re<^ulars  in  the  country  during  that  long 
period.  One  company  was  stationed  at  St.  Louis, 
with  a  small  squad  of  its  men  at  Ste.  Genevieve  and 
New  Madrid,  and  the  balance  of  the  regiment  at  the 
various  posts  in  the  lower  country  at  Baton  Ronge, 
Natchitoches,  etc.,  the  largest  portion  at  New  Or- 
leans, the  headquarters  of  the  regiment,  and  the 
connnandants  at  these  various  posts  were  all  attached 
to  this  regiment. 

At  the  cession  of  the  country  to  the  United  States 
in  1804,  Governor  De  Lassus  was  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  regiment,  and  became  its  full  colonel  after  it 
had  gone  below.  The  principal  service  I'cndered  by 
these  soldiers  was  somewhat  in  the  nature  of  a  mili- 
tary police,  to  preserve  peace  and  order  in  the  com- 
munity and  maintain  the  sovereignty  of  the  king, 
there  being  no  enemy  to  contend  with  either  at  home 
or  abroad,  and  for  protection  against  possible  inroads 
of  Indian  tribes. 


THE    FIRST    BILLIAKD   TABLE    IX    ST.  LOUIS. 

"Before  me,  the  royal  notary  of  Illinois,  Province  of  Louisi- 
ana, in  presence  of  the  hereafter  named  undersigned  witnesses, 
was  personally  present  Jean  Bapte  Vien,  billiard  table  keeper  at 
the  post  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  Spanish  side  of  the  Illinois ;  who  by 
these  presents  has  leased  for  three  full,  consecutive,  and  com- 
pleted years,  commencing  from  to-day,  the  date  of  these  presents, 
to-wit:  A  billiard  table,  furnished  complete  with  its  cloth,  maces, 
and  cues,  and  balls,  such  as  they  are  at  present,  of  which  the 


FIRST  INDENTURE.  73 

parties  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  make  a  fuller  description, 
with  the  building  in  which  it  is  consti'ucted,  situated  at  the  said 
post  of  St.  Louis,  bounded  by  the  ground  of  Cadicn  on  one  side, 
and  on  the  other  side  by  the  lot  of  Isidor  Peltier,  and  another 
side  a  cross  street,  separating  it  from  Durcy's  lot;*  and  it  is  un- 
derstood that  the  building  in  which  is  the  billiard  tal)le  is  not  in" 
eluded  in  said  lease,  and  will  be  taken  away  in  the  first  days  of 
May  next,  said  lease  being  for  the  billiard  table,  etc.,  only.  This 
lease  is  made  to  Mr.  Louis  Vige,  merchant,  living  at  present  in 
St.  Louis,  to  keep  the  table  running  for  his  profit  during  the  three 
years,  and  return  it  at  the  end  of  that  time  in  good  order. 

"  This  present  bargain,  made  for  the  sura  of  six  hundred  livres 
in  peltries  at  current  prices  at  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  which  said 
Mr.  Vige  promises  to  pay  to  said  Vien,  or  to  the  holder  of  the 
present,  at  the  end  of  each  year,  and  besides  said  Vige  is  to  have 
completed  by  the  end  of  the  three  years  a  building,  covered  with 
shingles,  floored  below  and  ceiled  above,  with  a  stone  chimney, 
for  the  billiard  table  at  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  when  it  will  be 
placed  by  Mr.  Vigo,  ready  to  run,  and  Mr.  Vige  will  take  it  to  the 
place  where  it  will  be  built,  when  it  will  be  delivered  to  Vien,  with 
six  feet  of  ground  all  around  the  billiard  building. t  All  the  above 
has  been  agreed  between  the  parties,  who,  for  the  execution  of 
the  present  lease,  have  bound  and  mortgaged  all  their  property', 
present  and  future.  Done  and  passed  at  the  post  of  St.  Louis, 
Feby.  7,  1770,  in  presence  of  Louis  Dubreuil,  merchant,  and 
Francis  Cotin,  witnesses,  who  have  signed  the  same  with  the 
notary,  after  being  read,  the  parties  not  knowing  how  to  write. 

"Louis  Dl'bueuil  and  Cotin,  witnesses. 

"  Labusciere,  Notary." 


FIRST    INDENTURE. 

"  Personally  present  Francis  Baribault,  a  free  boy,  living  in 
this  post  of  St.  Louis,  aged  about  19  years,  who  by  these  pres- 

*  This  billiard  room  was  on  the  south  side  of  Vine  Street,  at  the  east 
corner  of  the  alley,  between  Main  and  Vine  Streets.  — F.  L.  B. 

t  An  indorsement  on  it  shows  Vige  paid  the  tlrst  year's  rent,  two  hun- 
dred livres. 


74  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

ents  voluntarily  binds  himself  for  two  years  and  an  half  to  James 
Denia,  joiner,  also  of  tiiis  place,  as  an  apprentice  to  learn  the 
trade  and  mystery  of  a  joiner  —  commencinj?  with  this  day,  and 
to  end,  without  discontinuance,  at  the  close  of  the  two  and  half 
years ;  said  Denis  binds  himself  to  feed,  clothe  and  maintain  said 
apprentice,  with  proper  medical  attendance  if  sick,  during  the 
term  of  his  apprenticeship,  and  to  use  his  best  endeavours,  as  a 
good  citizen  and  master,  to  teach  saiil  apprentice  his  said  business 
as  a  joiner;  and  in  like  manner  said  Baril)ault  binds  himself  to 
work  with  all  his  ability  and  strength  for  the  interest  of  his  mas- 
ter in  acquiring  his  trade,  and  to  obey  his  proper  commands  in  all 
things  connected  with  the  said  business.  Denis  to  have  no  claim 
on  said  apprentice's  services  beyond  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
unless  for  loss  of  time  through  fault  of  said  apprentice. 

"In  addition  said  Denis  is  to  put  up  at  his  cost  and  expense, 
at  the  close  of  said  apprenticeship,  a  small  house  of  posts  in  the 
ground  of  12  by  15  feet,  with  an  earthern  chimney  and  covered 
with  shingles,  on  such  lot  of  ground  as  BarriDault  may  then  have 
acquired,  so  that  he  may  have  a  place  to  live  in  when  he  leaves 
said  Denis. 

Done  at  office  in  St.  Louis,  of  Illinois,  April  4,  1770,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  undersigned  witnesses  and  parties,  who  liave  signed 
the  same,  after  being  read,  except  Baribault,  who  knows  not  how 
to  write. 

JuLiEN  Leroy,  ^  Jacques  Denis, 

Beau  Soliel,     i  Witnesses. 

Hekvieux,         >  Labuscieue,  Notary. 


EAKLY    FRENCH     MERCHANTS. 

Much  of  the  early  emi^n'ation  to  lower  Louisiana 
came  from  the  southwest  part  of  France,  bordering 
on  Spain  and  along  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  and 
Mediterranean,  many  of  them  well  educated  business 
men  of   the  best  families,  from  the  principal  towns 


SHOWING  ALL  THE  HOUSES  BUILT  IN  I 
There  were  lOO  Wood  and  IJ  Stone  Butldii.);s.    The  wo 


EARLY  FRENCH  MERCHANTS. 


75 


tliroufi^hout  tluH  region  of  country,  quite  a  number  of 

tjjein  fnnling  their  way  up  to  St.  J^ouis :  — 

Papiii,  Jos.  M. 
Kouliiciix,  Gaspard 
Yo«ti,  Emclicn 
Viijo,  Fmneis 
Bargus,  Domingo 
Poiircell}',  John  P. 
Gratiot,  Cliarles 
Clamoigan,  Jacques 
Bonis,  A.  v.,  Marseilles 
Sorin,  Joseph,  Larocbelle 
Collel,    Bonaventura,    Barcelona 
Sarp3',  Gregoire,  Funcl 
Sarpy,  Pierre  Silvestre,  Funel 
Sarpy,  Pierre  Berald,  Funel 
Ri'illie,  Antoine 
Manniilon,  Francois 
Fusilier  de  la  Claire,  Gabriel 
Delorier,  Louis  Merlet 
Barrouselle,    Francois,    St.    Do- 
mingo. 
Coignard,  Louis,  Chatillon 
Cabanno,  John  P.,  Pau 
Rutgers,  Arend 
Delaunay,  David 


Laclede  Ligucst,  Pierre 

Bidet,  Jno.  B.  Langoumois 

Butaud,  Jno.  B.  Briiid'amour 

Eloi,  Francis 

Duhreuil,  Louis  Cbauvet 

Barsalou,  Nicliolns 

Thonlouse,  Jno.  M. 

Hubert,  Antoine 

Durcy,  Francis 

Lambert,  Louis 

Foiiche,  Pierre 

Dutlllet,  M. 

Borard,  Antoine,  Bordeau 

Lepage,  Francois 

Peri,  Pierre 

Aus^ust  Conde,  Surgeon 

Valeau,  Jno.  B.,  Sur. 

Motard,  J.  A.  J.,  Avignon 

Suri»y,  Jno.  B.,  Funel 

St'gond,  Joseph 

Labbadie,  Silvestre,  Tarbes 

Duralde,  M.  M. 

C'onand,  Joseph 

Duclos,  Jno. 

Barre,  Etienne 

Lagarciniere. 


By  an  examination  of  the  plat  of  the  village  and 
tables,  it  will  be  seen  that  St.  Louis  contained  in  the 
year  1770,  at  the  conclusion  of  her  first  and  French 
administration,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  houses  — 
one  hundred  of  wood  and  fifteen  of  stone  —  of  which 
number  seventy-five,  about  two-thirds  of  the  whole. 


PLAT  OF  ST.  LOU 

SHOWING  ALL  THE  HOUSES  BUILT  IN   ITS  FIRST  SIX  YEARS  WHILE  UNDER  THE  FRr.NCl 
Tliere  were  loo  Wood  and  15  Stuiic  niiililinK».    The  wood  arc  indicsted  in  lolid  black ;  the  ttonc  In  outline.    No  Church 


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H  ADMINISTRATION  OF  ST.  ANGE  AND  HIS  ASSOCIATKS  IN  THE  GOVERNMENT. 
I  ntillillnK  until  1770,  prior  to  whlcli  data  there  Wiu  it  itniall  \og  Chapel  at  northoait  corner  o(  Church  Block. 


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76  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

had  been  put  up  in  her  two  first  years  — 1765  and 
1766  —  with  a  population  of  about  500  souls.  And 
at  the  transfer  of  the  country  to  the  United  States 
in  1804  they  had  increasr  ^  to  one  hundred  and  thirty 
of  wood  and  fifty-one  of  stone  —  one  hundred  and 
eighty-one  in  all ;  an  increase  in  the  thirty-four  years 
under  Spanish  rule  of  sixty-six  buildings ;  an  aver- 
age of  barely  two  per  annum,  and  this  included 
stores,  warehouses,  kitchens  and  other  buildings, 
etc.,  some  twenty  or  so.  The  dwellings  being  about 
one  hundred  and  sixty,  and  the  population  925 
souls —  an  average  of  less  than  six  to  a  house. 

St.  Louis  in  her  first  five  years  of  existence,  with 
her  one  hundred  and  fifteen  houses,  had  become 
larger  than  Kaskaskia  ever  had  been  in  her  best  days, 
drawing  the  largest  portion  of  her  new  comers  from 
the  Illinois  side  of  the  river,  reducing  somewhat  the 
populations  of  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  Prairie  du 
Rocher,  and  completely  depopulating  and  annihi- 
lating the  two  villages  of  Fort  Chartres  and  St. 
Phillippe,  which  ceased  to  exist. 

During  the  thirty-four  years  of  Spanish  authority 
succeeding  the  first  six  years  of  French  rule,  the 
place  continued  to  be  French  in  every  essential  but 
the  partial  use  of  Spanish  in  a  fewoflicial  documents ; 
the  intercourse  of  the  people  with  each  other,  and 


THE  EARLY  PRIESTS.  77 

their  goycrnors,  their  commerce,  trade,  habits,  cus- 
toms, manners,  amusements,  marriages,  funerals, 
services  in  church,  parish  registers,  everything  was 
French ;  the  governors  and  officers  all  spoke  French, 
it  was  a  sme  qua  non  in  their  appointment ;  the  few 
Spaniards  that  settled  in  the  country  soon  became 
Frenchmen,  and  all  manied  French  wives ;  no  French- 
man became  a  Spaniard ;  two  or  thi'ce  of  the  gov- 
ernors were  Frenchmen  by  birth  ;  the  wives  of  Gov. 
Piernas  and  Trudeau  were  French  ladies.  Outside 
of  the  Spanish  officials  and  soldiers  not  moi'e  than  a 
dozen  Spaniards  came  to  the  place  during  the  dom- 
ination of  Spain ;  Govei-nor  Delassus  was  born  in 
France  and  Trudeau  of  French  stock,  and  nearly  all 
the  papers  in  the  archives  were  in  the  French  lan- 
guage. The  country  was  only  Spanish  by  possession , 
but  practically  French  in  all  else. 

THE   EARLY  PRIESTS. 

Father  I.  L.  Meurin,  parish  curate  of  our  Lady 
of  Cahokia,  was  the  first,  and  after  him  Father 
Gibault,  curate  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  at 
Kaskaskia,  and  Vicar  General  of  my  Lord  Bishop 
of  Quebec,  the  second  who  came  over  occasionally 
from  the  other  side,  and  officiated  for  a  few  years  in 
a  tent,  and  from  the  summer  of  17G8  hi  a  small  log 


78  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

chapel  put  up  for  temporary  use  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  church  square,  which  sei'ved  until  the 
erection  of  the  first  church  in  177G. 

The  first  public  sale  at  the  door  of  the  chapel  took 
place  on  Sunday,  September  12,  1768,  by  Cottin, 
the  first  constable.* 

During  the  French  period  prior  to  1770,  the 
churches  iu  this  pi'ovince  were  under  the  ecclesi- 
astical authority  of  the  Bishopric  of  Quebec,  after 
the  establishment  of  the  Si)anish  authority  by  Don 
Pedro  Piernas  May  20,  1770,  they  came  under  that 
of  the  Bishopric  of  Cuba. 

The  first  book  in  whicli  were  registered  the  bap- 
tisms, marriages  and  deaths  of  this  parish  of  St. 
Louis,  was  commenced  on  October  4,  1770,  by  Rene 
Kiersereau,  the  sexton  of  the  church,  there  being 
tlicn  no  parish  priest  as  yet,  who  on  that  date  in- 
terred the  body  of  Gregory,  a  free  negro  man,  and 
who  continued,  as  sexton,  to  inter  until  March  25, 
1772,  up  to  which  date  he  had  interred  thirty-four 
bodies,  when  Father  Valentin,  who  had  just  been 
appointed  the  first  curate  of  the  parish  of  St.  Louis, 
entered  upon  his  duties,  and  took  charge  of  the 
church  register. 


*  Archives,  vol.  2,  page  24,  No.  24. 


FIRST  PARISH  REGISTER. 


n 


The  first  baptism  in  St.  Louis  was  by  Father 
Meuriii  in  May,  17G6,  of  Marie  Deschamps,  born 
in  September,  17G5  md  his  last  one,  of  Marie  Jo- 
sepha  Kiersereau,  February  7,  1769  —  numbering 
twenty-nine  by  him  and  three  by  Kierso'cau  — 
thirty- two  in  the  three  years.  They  were  noted 
down  at  the  time  on  loose  sheets  of  paper,  and  after- 
wards, when  the  fii'st  register  book  was  procured  by 
Governor  Piernas,  copied  therein,  several  of  them 
imperfect,  torn  and  mice-eaten. 


1.  Marie    Deschamps,     17G5, 

1700. 

2.  Veronica  Ride,  May  9. 

3.  Aiitoine,  abalf-breedPanis, 

May  9. 

4.  Catherine   Bissonnet,   May 

7,  17G7. 

5.  Helen  Hebert,  May  7,  1707. 
0.  Pelagie  Kiersereau 

7.  Marie  Langevin, 

8.  Henry  Francois  Leroy  "     " 

9.  Joseph    Guion,    June     21, 

1707. 

10.  Gabriel  Dodier,   Aug.    10, 

1707. 

11.  Claude  ,    Sept.     1, 

1707. 

12.  Pad,  a  slave.  Sept,  1,  1707. 

13.  Paul  Gregory,  a  free  negro, 

Sept.  1,  1707. 


14.  Catherine  RoUet,   Sept.    1, 

1707. 

15.  Jno.    B.  Gamache,  May  3, 

1708. 

16.  Angelica  Bissonnet,  May  3, 

1768. 

17.  Peter  Berger,  May  3,  1768. 

18.  Louis  Denoycr,    "         " 

19.  Angelica  Grammont,      " 

20.  Elizabeth  Hunand 

21.  Constance  Labusciere,  " 

22.  Marie  M.  Robert,  " 

23.  Louis  Denoyer's  daughter, 

1709. 

24.  Marie     Josa.    Kiersereau, 

Feb.  7,  1709. 
The  last  by  Father  Meurin,  and 
eight  others,  slaves  and 
Indians. 


80  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

So,  also,  with  the  deaths  during  these  five  years, 
no  register  of  them  was  kept,  but  through  the  ar- 
chives, wills  and  inventories  we  have  ascertained  the 
most  prominent  of  the  men  to  the  extent  of  ten  or 
twelve.  -  ' 

1766.  —  Mr.  Legrain,  who  came  in  the  boat  with 
Chouteau. 

1767,  April  3d.  —  Judge  Joseph  Lefebvre,  De- 
bruisseau. 

1767,  April  3d.  — Mr.  Francis  Eloy,  at  :N'ew 
Orleans. 

1768,  ;N^ov.  25.  —  Doc.  Jno.  B.  Valleau,  army 
surgeon. 

1769,  May.  —  Mr.  Thos.  Blondeau,  son  of  Joseph 
Blondcau. 

1769,  Aug.  —  Paul  Sigle,  tanner,  from  the  Island 
of  Malta. 

1769,  Aug.  —  John  Ante.  D'Annis,  alias  St  Yin- 
cent,  merchant. 

1769,  Aug. — Mrs.  Nicholas  H.  Beaugenou. 
1769  or  1770.  —  Mr.  Constantine  Quirigou  Phillip. 

1770,  xVug.  12.  —  Mr.  Louis  Deshetres,  Indian  in- 
terpreter. 

1770. — Lieut.  P.  F.  B.  I.  Debruisseau,  son  of 
Judge  Lefebvre,  at  !New  Orleans. 

1770,  Sept.  —  Nicholas  Marechal,  native  of  France. 

1771,  Oct.  25.— Mr.  Joseph  Detailly,  Indian  in- 
terpreter. 


EARLY  HOUSES.  81 

As  to  the  marriages,  they  are  all  preserved  in  the 
archives,  as  the  law  required  all  contracts  to  be  exe- 
cuted in  presence  of  the  governor,  for  which  a  fee 
was  exacted. 

This  first  church  register  served  for  fifteen  years, 
from  1766  to  1781 ,  after  which  a  separate  book  was 
used  for  marriages,  baptisms  and  deaths. 

EARLY  HOUSES. 

Until  some  years  after  the  transfer  in  1804,  the 
houses  were  of  but  two  materials,  stone  and  timber. 
The  stone  was  quarried  with  a  crow-bar  and  sledge- 
hammer, from  along  the  river  bluffs  in  front  of  the 
village,  and  much  of  the  timber  for  the  first  houses 
was  cut  on  the  ground  and  in  the  near  vicinity. 

The  houses  were  uniformly  of  one  style,  such  as 
prevails  in  the  South,  one  story  in  height,  with  a  loft 
above  and  a  steep  roof,  the  largest  and  best  with 
galleries  all  around,  some  with  galleries  in  front  and 
sides,  and  a  few  of  the  poorer  sort  only  in  front, 
generally  covered  with  clapboards,  the  best  shingled. 
About  four-fifths  of  the  houses  were  of  posts  set 
in  the  ground,  the  best  of  them  hewed  about  nine 
inches  square,  the  others  of  round  posts  set  about 
three  feet  deep ;  a  few  of  the  best  of  these  houses 
were  of  hewed  posts  set  on  a  stone  wall  from  four  to 
five  feet  high  above  ground.  The  largest  portion 
of  these  hoiises  were  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  in 


82  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

size,  divided  usually  into  two  and  some  of  them 
three  rooms ;  some  smaller,  of  fifteeH  to  twenty  feet 
square,  a  single  room,  which  had  to  serve  as  parlor, 
bed  and  dining-room  and  kitchen  ;  a  few  had  a  shed 
attached  to  the  house  for  the  latter  purpose.  A  few 
of  the  larger  houses  were  divided  into  three  rooms, 
with  a  stone  chimney  in  the  center  and  a  fire-place  in 
each  room ;  they  were  mostly  floored  with  hewed 
puncheons,  the  ceilings  from  eight  to  ten  feet  high. 
A  few  of  the  largest  stone  houses  were  divided 
into  five  rooms,  a  large  one  in  the  center  extending 
from  front  to  rear,  and  two  small  ones  on  each  side, 
opening  into  the  large  center  room ;  the  floor  some 
ten  feet  above  ground,  the  lower  part  used  for  cellar 
or  store-rooms ;  the  flooring  sawed  with  whip-saws, 
there  being  no  saw-mill  in  the  country,  with  ceilings 
about  ten  feet  high,  with  from  one  to  two  windows 
in  a  room,  opening,  in  the  French  style,  on  hinges, 
and  glazed  with  8  by  10  lights,  a  few  with  10  by  12, 
the  largest  size  used  in  the  country  for  many  years. 

HOUSEHOLD     FURNITURE. 

It  is  plainly  evident  that  in  houses  of  the  sizes  as 
described  there  was  but  little  room  for  furniture, 
however  desirable  it  might  have  been  to  possess  it ; 
with  many,  a  bedstead  and  bedding,  table,  a  few 
chairs,  with  a  cupboard  for  their  few  articles  of  table 


WATt.R.  83 

ware,  and  a  chest  or  trunk  for  their  apparel,  consti- 
tnted  the  snm  total  of  then*  possessions  in  that  line, 
with  some  few  in  larg-er  houses,  a  bureau  or  clothes- 
press,  with  other  necessary  articles.  Of  course  the 
few  comparatively  wealthy  ones  with  larger  houses 
had  more  and  better  furniture,  and  some  of  them  a 
little  silverware  and  i)late,  but  floor  carpets  wei'e  not 
introduced  into  the  country  for  many  long  years 
thereafter. 

WATEH. 

For  some  years  after  the  commencement  of  the 
village  settlement  there  were  no  wells  sunk,  the 
underlying  formation  being  limestone  but  a  few  feet 
below  the  surface  and  crop[)ing  out  at  various  points, 
particulai'ly  on  the  edge  of  the  bluffs,  where  the 
rock  Avas  bare  along  the  whole  front.  With  the 
exception  of  two  or  three  springs,  the  inhabitants 
used  the  river  water  for  all  purposes,  and  for  this 
reason  the  lots  along  the  river  front  were  first  sought 
and  built  upon. 

The  water  was  hauled  up  from  the  river  in  a  barrel 
laid  across  two  sappling  poles  which  served  for  shafts, 
called  a  "  drag."  After  a  time  a  fcnv  wells  were 
sunk,  back  on  the  second  and  third  streets,  but  as 
they  had  to  bore  thi'ough  the  limestone  bed-rock  of 
the  village  in  their  excavation  they  cost  much  money 
and  but  few  undertook  them. 

Col.  Chouteau,  who   lived   on   his   block   almost 


84  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

sixty-five  years,  had  made  two  attempts  on  different 
parts  of  the  same ;  one  of  them  was  unsuccessful, 
the  other,  after  going-  to  the  depth  of  one  hundred 
feet,  at  great  cost,  procured  a  Uttle  water,  but  a  very 
inadequate  supply. 

Besides,  it  was  only  in  the  summer  time  that  a 
little  cold  water  was  needed  for  drinking  purposes, 
there  being  then  no  ice  put  up,  l)ut  the  river  water 
was  universally  preferred,  as  being  more  wholesome 
and  palatable. 

FUEL. 

Stone  ooal,  if  even  then  discovered,  was  not  made 
use  of  generally  until  long  after  the  American  days. 
There  was  no  need  of  it,  wood  being  abundant  and 
cheap  all  over  the  country.  Even  as  late  as  1825, 
when  the  supply  in  the  near  vicinity  began  to  grow 
short,  it  was  brought  on  rafts  from  the  upper  rivers, 
and  sold  at  from  |1.25  to  |1.50  per  cord.  The  little 
fuel  used  by  blacksmiths  was  charcoal  burnt  near  the 
villages. 

AGRICUL7'UBE. 

The  agricultural  operations  in  the  early  develop- 
ment of  the  settlement  were  on  a  very  limited  scale, 
confined  at  first  mainly  to  corn  for  their  bread ; 
potatoes  and  turnips,  pumpkins  and  melons  in  their 
common  fields,  and  no  more  of  these  than  were 
necessary  for  their  own  consumption,  as  there  would 


AGRICULTURE. 

have  been  no  market  for  any  surplus,  and  each  one 
his  little  gfarden  i)atch  contiguous  to  his  residence, 
where  he  raised  his  Httle  supply  of  kitchen  tnick. 

In  a  few  years,  after  the  erection  of  Laclede's 
water  mill,  they  added  wheat  to  their  bread  stuffs. 
The  cultivation  of  these  products  constituted  the 
whole  of  their  agricultural  labors  during  these  early 
years.  They  needed  no  meadows,  the  wild  prairie 
grass  abounding  all  over  the  country  affording 
abundance  of  nutritious  hay  foi*  their  animals,  upon 
which  they  thrived  and  kept  in  the  best  of  condition 
throughout  the  year,  grain  seldom  being  given, 
except  occasionally  to  a  working  animal,  they  had 
no  need  of  oats.  Their  gardens  furnished  them 
peas,  beans,  cabbages,  beets,  carrots,  etc.,  the  woods 
and  prairies  plenty  of  wild  game,  the  streams  plenty 
of  fish,  and  with  their  beef,  poultry,  eggs,  milk  and 
butter  there  was  abundance  in  the  land,  because  the 
consumers  were  but  few. 

The  only  article  in  the  country  on  wheels  for  long 
years  was  a  charrette,  a  pnmitive  cart,  constructed 
of  two  pieces  of  scantling  some  ten  or  twelve  feet 
long  framed  together  by  two  or  more  cross  pieces, 
upon  one  end  of  which  the  body,  of  wicker-work, 
was  placed,  and  the  front  ends  rounded  to  serve  as 
the  shafts,  and  the  whole  set  on  the  axletree  of  the 
wheels. 

Almost  the  only  use  they  had  for  it  was  to  haul  in 


86  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

their  com  and  hay  to  thoir  1)anis  back  of  the  village. 
It  was  sometimes  used  to  take  ladies  and  children  out 
on  a  ride.  All  the  nuiles  and  most  of  the  females 
made  their  riding-  on  horse-back.  Laclede  brought 
up  his  family. from  Fort  Chartres  in  1764  in  one 
of  these  carts,  and  the  writer  rode  uj)  in  one  from 
Ste.  Genevieve  in  1818  —  rather  rough. 

Their  agricultural  implements  were  very  limited  in 
variety  and  of  the  most  primitive  construction,  such 
as  ploughs,  hoes,  spades  and  shovels,  grubbing  hoes, 
rakes,  etc. ;  occasionally,  a  harrow,  a  joint-stock  con- 
cern serving  a  neighborhood.  * 

AMUSEMENTS. 

For  the  men,  the  amusements  were  billiards,  cards 
and  pony  races,  for  amusement  only — rarely  any- 
thing staked.  For  the  females,  fiddling  and  dancing 
and  the  usual  amount  of  gossiping  and  small-talk. 
In  1707,  the  village  hardly  two  years  old,  there  were 
two  billiard  establishments,  and  a  year  or  two  later, 
a  third.  Their  horses  for  many  years  being  exclu- 
sively a  small  breed  of  Indian  ponies  peculiar  to  the 
country,  mostly  natural  pacers,  their  I'aces  were  sel- 
dom more  than  a  few  huu(h'ed  yards  in  length,  or  at 
most,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  extent,  usually  in 
the  prairie  back  of  the  village,  there  being  then  no 
race  track.  ^ 

After  the   Americans    became   possessed   of    the 


PUBLIC  BALES.  87 

country  on  the  other  side,  larger  liornes  were  intro- 
duced here  from  Kentucky  for  work  and  di'aft  only. 
And  in  1818,  when  I  came  to  the  place,  a  horse  of 
fifteen  hands  high  was  considei-ed  a  large  horse,  and 
when  the  first  Conestoga  from  Pennsylvania  was 
seen  here  he  created  quite  a  sensation.  They  had  no 
idea  that  there  could  be  any  such  horses  in  existence. 

Their  dancing  parties  were  sometimes  on  a  Satiu'- 
day  evening,  after  the  labors  of  the  week  were 
ended,  and  were  always  kei)t  up  until  daylight  the 
next  morning.  But  more  frequently  on  Sundays, 
afternoons  and  evenings,  the  Sabbath  being  con- 
sidered over  by  most  of  the  people  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  High  Mass  at  twelve  o'clock  noon,  —  the  after- 
noons were  devoted  to  anuisement,  a  few^  only  of 
the  most  devout,  largely  females,  would  attend  the 
evening  vespers. 

Th«nr  judgment  sales,  by  decree  of  the  governor, 
always  took  place  on  Sundays  at  the  church  door,  ;it 
the  close  of  the  Mass  at  twelve  o'clock  noon,  that 
being  the  only  idle  day  of  the  week  when  a 
small  crowd  could  be  gathered  together  for  such 
a  pnrpose,  the  most  of  the  people  being  engaged 
during  the  other  days  in  their  varions  avocations,  and 
with  the  majority  of  the  people  the  religious  duties 
of  the  day  being  discharged  at  that  hour,  and  as  all 
made  it  a  special  duty  to  attend  the  Mass,  usually  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  place  were  there  assembled. 


88  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Previous  notice  having  been  given  of  the  sale,  the 
property  was  cried  out  for  three  successive  Sundays, 
and  then  awarded  to  the  highest  bidder  on  the  third 
day ;  as  thei'e  were  usually  no  other  biddci's  than  the 
two  or  three  who  might  desire  the  house  for  a  resi- 
dence, the  sale  required  but  little  time,  the  property 
was  generally  knocked  off  at  the  value  of  the  improve- 
ments, the  lot  generally  considered  as  part  of  the 
appurtenances  of  the  improvements. 

(No  speculation  in  town-lots  at  that  day.) 

MARRIAGE    CONTRACTS. 

The  laws  and  customs  relating  to  marriages  were 
those  of  Paris  and  Castile,  designated  "  a  community 
of  interest," —  that  is  to  say,  unless  otherwise  specified 
in  the  civil  contract,  whatever  property  either  party 
possessed  before  marriage  made  a  common  fund  to  be 
equally  enjoyed  by  both.  On  the  death  of  either  party 
intestate  ;  the  survivor  was  entitled  to  one-half  of  the 
estate,  and  the  children  of  the  marriage,  if  any,  the 
other  half ;  if  no  children,  then  the  legal  heirs  of  the 
deceased  party,  —  such  as  parents,  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, etc.,  —  hence  it  was  customary  upon  the  death 
of  a  married  pei'son  to  proceed  at  once  to  take  an 
inventory  of  his  or  her  effects.  If  so  specified  in 
the  contract,  the  survivor  could  elect  to  "  renounce  " 
the  community  of  interest,  and  withdraw  whatever 
amount  he  or  she  may  have  put  in.     This  did  not 


LIVRE.  89 

prevent  eithei*  party  from  leaving  to  the  survivor  the 
whole  of  the  property  where  there  were  no  children, 
which  was  the  usual  course,  but  hi  all  cases  where 
there  were  children  they  were  to  have  one-half  col- 
lectively. This  was  the  civil  marriage,  the  p  ■•^•-  i 
l)eing  afterwards  united  with  the  rites  of  the  church 
by  the  parish  pi'iest. 

Inventories  being  required  in  nearly  all  cases  of 
death,  where  the  deceased  person  possessed  any  prop- 
erty, it  was  the  duty  of  the  governor  or  commandant, 
on  receiving  notice  of  the  death  of  any  one,  to  repair 
to  the  residence  of  the  deceased  with  his  clerks  and 
Avitnesses,  and  there  take  an  inventory  of  the  effects 
of  said  deceased,  which  being  done,  might  remain  in 
the  custody  of  the  sumvor,  or,  if  a  single  person,  in 
charge  of  some  responsible  person  appointed  by  the 
governor. 

In  the  case  of  wills,  where  the  party,  from  sickness 
or  other  disability,  could  not  appear  before  him  in 
his  office,  it  was  made  his  duty  to  repair  to  the  bed- 
side of  the  sick  person  and  there  have  the  will  exe- 
cuted and  attested  in  his  presence. 

All  papers,  to  give  them  validity,  had  to  be  executed 
in  presence  of  the  governor. 


The  French  word  "iivre"  signifies  in  English  a 
hook,  a  pound  weight,  and  down  to  the  date  of  the 


90  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

French  Republican  Constitution  of  1792,  was  the 
name  of  a  coin  of  the  vahie  of  18j  cents  of  our 
currency,  which  for  long  centuries  back  under  the 
ancient  monarchy  of  France,  was  established  as  the 
unit  of  that  nation  in  which  all  their  money  calcula- 
tions were  figured  up  and  their  account-books  kept. 

The  French  Revolutionists,  in  their  zeal  to  do 
away  with  every  thing  that  savored  in  the  slightest 
of  the  ^^  ancien  regime,''''  abolished  the  "  i*we," 
and  substituted  therefor  their  new  coin  the  ^'' franc,'"' 
which  they  made  one  mill  or  one-tenth  of  a  cent 
heavier  than  the  "  Z^^57'e,"  otherwise  it  would  have 
been  merely  the  *'  same  old  thing"  Avith  a  new  name ; 
since  which  day  the  word  '"^livre"  as  applied  to  a 
"money-coin,"  has  become  obsolete,  and  is  known 
to  but  few  of  the  present  age.  The  par  value  of  five 
livres  by  act  of  Congress  was  92^  cents  U.  S.  cur- 
rency, and  that  of  five  francs  93  cents. 

As  this  term  ' '  livi'e ' '  occurs  in  every  French 
document  on  record  in  our  archives  relating  to  money 
matters,  the  persons  who  were  employed  to  translate 
these  papers  into  English  some  years  back,  behig 
doubtless  ignorant  that  there  ever  had  been  a  coin 
of  that  designation,  have  almost  invariably  translated 
it  into  ^''  pound,"  therebv  making  the  document  trans- 
lated meaningless  in  its  most  essential  particular,  the 
consideration. 

Let  it  be  understood   that  the  above  remarks  in 


COMMONS  AND  COMMON -FIELDS.  91 

relation  to  the  ^'■livre^''  apply  solely  to  the  mode 
of  ^'- keeping  ^^  theh*  accounts,  there  beuig  but  little, 
if  any,  coin  seen  in  the  country,  the  circulating  me- 
dium being  furs  and  peltries  at  a  fixed  price  per 
pound  —  40  cents  the  finest,  30  for  medium,  and  20 
cents  inferior,  whether  established  by  law  or  custom 
does  not  appear ;  but  unless  otherwise  stipulated  by 
contract  all  transactions  were  understood  to  be  in 
the  above  medium.*  After  the  transfer  to  Spain, 
the  coin  of  that  khigdom  began  to  appear,  but  in 
limited  amounts,  as  we  find  a  few  transactions  for 
"  hard  dollars,''''  in  conti'adistinction  no  doubt  to  the 
soft,  or  ^^fur''^  dollars.  As  to  paper  money,  none 
had  ever  been  seen  in  the  country  at  that  early  day, 
and  even  xiad  there  been  any,  but  few  could  have 
made  out  the  denomination . 

COMMOXS   AXD    COMMOX-FIELDS. 

Of  those  who  were  the  first  to  come  over  to  this 
from  the  other  side,  far  the  largest  portion  were 
tillers  of  the  soil,  who,  by  their  labors  in  the  field, 
produced  their  own  subsistence  and  that  of  their 
stock.  Some  of  them,  in  seasons  when  not  engaged 
in  their  agricultural  avocations,  exercised  the  calling 


♦  Even  after  the  transfer  to  the  United  States,  transactions  were  made 
in  peltries,  as  we  And  tliat  Judge  Juo.  B.  C.  Lucas  made  his  first  purchase 
of  a  house  for  his  residence  from  Pierre  Duchouquette  and  wife  Decem- 
ber 14,  1807,  for  $G00  in  peltries.     (Boole  A,  525.) 


92  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

of  rough  artisans,  such  as  blacksmiths,  carpenters, 
stone  masons,  hewers,  etc.,  employed  in  building. 
Others,  procuring  small  outfits  of  merchandise  spent 
the  winters  trading  with  Indians  and  trapping,  con- 
sequently it  wais  a  matter  of  pnme  necessity  with 
them,  so  soon  as  they  had  erected  their  domicile  in 
the  village,  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  production  of 
their  bread-stuffs.  For  this  pui-pose  the  land  imme- 
diately adjoining  the  village  on  the  northwest,  being 
the  most  suitable,  was  set  aside  for  cultivation,  and 
conceded  in  strips  of  one  arpent  in  front  by  forty  in 
depth,  and  each  applicant  allotted  one  cr  more, 
according  to  his  ability  to  cultivate  it.  This  was 
called  the  common-field  lots,  and  the  tract  extended 
from  a  little  below  Market  Street  on  the  south,  to 
opposite  the  big  mound  on  the  north,  and  from 
Broadway  to  Jefferson  Avenue,  east  to  west.  The 
land  lying  southwest  of  the  village  being  well  wa^ered 
with  numerous  springs  and  well  covered  with  timber, 
was  set  aside  for  the  village  commons,  hi  which  the 
cattle  and  stock  of  the  inhabitants  were  kept  for 
safety  and  convenience. 

These  two  tracts  of  land  were  at  once  enclosed  by 
the  people  in  1764  and  1765,  and  their  eastern  fence 
formed  the  western  boundary  of  the  village  for  many 
years.* 


•  Col.  Chouteau's  testimony  before  the  Board  of  Land  CommlsslonerB, 
1806. 


NAMING  ST.  LOUIS.  93 

The  idea  that  St.  Louis  was  named  in  honor  of 
the  then  king  of  France,  Louis  XV.,  first  appears 
in  print  in  Jno.  A.  Paxton's  brief  sketch  of  the 
place  in  his  Directory  of  1821,  and  has  since  been 
accepted  by  others  in  default  of  more  reliable  in- 
foi-mation  on  that  head.  This  idea,  to  say  the  least, 
is  preposterous,  as  can  be  clearly  demonstrated. 

At  the  time  St.  Louis  received  its  appellation,  its 
people  had  just  been  driven  from  the  other  side, 
where  many  of  them  were  born,  abandoning  their 
little  property,  their  homes,  all  the  little  comforts  a 
lifelong  laborious  avocation  had  enabled  them  to 
acquire,  by  the  act  of  this  very  man  who  was  the 
cause  of  all  their  troubles  and  misfortunes,  in  trans- 
ferring them  and  their  country  to  a  nation  that  they 
had  always  regarded  as  their  natural  enemies,  com- 
pelling them  either  to  live  under  a  detested  govern- 
ment or  fly  to  another,  and  this  latter  alternative  was 
their  choice  as  the  least  of  the  two  evils.  Is  it  not 
more  likely  that,  instead  of  honoring  this  man  by 
naming  their  new  location  after  him,  they  would 
unite  in  execrations  on  his  head?  A  man  who  so  far 
from  being  a  saint  was  the  very  anti  jodes  of  one, 
leading  a  depraved  and  dissolute  life,  and  who,  had 
he  lived  at  a  later  period  in  our  history,  would  have 
doubtless  perished  on  the  scaffold,  instead  of  his 
grandson  and  successor,  the  virtuous  but  unfortunate 
Louis  XVI. 


94  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

It  received  its  name  from  King  Louis  IX.,  who, 
centuries  back,  had  sacrificed  his  life  in  his  zeal  for 
the  cause  of  religion  and  Christianity  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  holy  wars  in  the  East,  and  was  subse- 
quently canonized  by  the  head  of  the  church.  It 
always  was  and  is  yet,  I  believe,  to  some  extent,  the 
custom  of  devout  Catholics  in  all  places  named  after 
a  saint  to  consider  him  or  her  the  patron  saint  of  the 
place  so  named,  and  for  that  reason  the  "Fete  St. 
Louis,"  St.  Louis'  day,  August  25th,  was,  in  the 
early  days  of  St.  Louis,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
after  my  advent  to  the  place,  always  observed  with 
appropriate  religious  ceremonies  and  processions  of 
the  clergy  and  others  through  the  cemetery  and 
grounds  of  the  church. 

We  conclude  the  first  book  of  our  annals,  being  its 
early  French  history,  with  a  full  catalogue  of  all  the 
documents  found  m  the  archives,  all  written  by,  or 
in  presence  of,  Joseph  Labusciere,  from  April,  1766, 
to  May  20,  1770,  the  day  on  which  the  French  domi- 
nation terminated  in  St.  Louis,  and  that  of  Spain 
commenced,  under  the  administration  of  Governor 
Pedro  Piernas. 

Copied  from  the  original  in  the  handwriting  of 
Labusciere :  — 

Deeds  for  sales  of  lots  and  lands 61 

Sales  made  under  execution 11 

Bonds  and  obligations 30 

Barsains  or  trades 24 


END  OF  THE  FRENCH  DOMINATION.  95 

Marriage   contracts 16 

Exchanges  of  real  estate 8 

Engagements  for  services 11 

Acquittances  being  receipts 5 

Donations  or  gifts  of  property 5 

Inventories  of  property  of  deceased  persons 3 

Do          merchandise 4 

Indentures 1 

Copartnerships 2 

Agreements 2 

Emancipations  of  slaves 2 

Affidavits 2 

Ordinances  or  decrees 1 

Powers  of  attorney 1 

Wills 1 

Leases 2 

Miscellaneous 2 

Documents  in  all 194 

All  the  above  enumerated  papers  were  executed  by 
Labusciere,  as  notary,  and  ex-officio  secretary  of 
the  temporary  government,  in  whose  custody  they 
were  kept  until  handed  over  by  him  to  Governor 
Piernas,  May  20,  1770,  on  which  day  our  infant  vil- 
lage had  grown  to  contain  100  wooden  and  15  stone 
houses,  a  total  of  115,  -with  a  population  of  about 
five  hundred  souls,  in  the  six  years  since  its  com- 
mencement in  the  year  1764. 


96  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

This  house  of  upright  posts,  35  feet  frout  by  25 
deep,  built  by  Nicholas  Beaugenou,  Sr.,  at  the  south- 
west comer  of  Almond  and  Main  streets,  in  the  year 
1765,  was  one  of  the  first  built  in  St.  Louis,  and  in 
which  the  first  marriage  on  record  in  the  archives  of 
St.  Louis  took  place,  on  April  20,  1766,  that  of 
Beaugenou's  eldest  daughter,  Maria  Josepha,  then 
in  her  eighteenth  year,  to  Toussaint  Hunaut,  a  young 
Canadian  trader.  •      - 

The  house  was  occupied  by  the  Beaugenou  family 
for  some  years.  Subsequently  by  othei's  until  1815, 
when  it  was  purchased  by  Gen.  Wm.  Clark.  It  was 
occupied  by  Major  Mackey  Wheriy,  our  first  Town 
Register,  for  a  number  of  years  from  about  that 
period,  and  was  removed  not  many  years  back  to 
give  place  to  the  present  brick  structure. 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


PART  SECOND. 


THE   SPANISH  DOMINATION. 

1770-180^. 


The  Spanish  doiiihuition  in  Upper  Louisiana  dates 
from  May  20, 1770,  on  which  day  Capt.  Pierre  Joseph 
Piernas,  appointed  by  O'Reilly,  assumed  authority 
as  lieutenant-governor  and  military  commandant  of 
the  upper  portion  of  the  province. 

Piernas   was  a  Spaniard   by  birth,  and  came   to 

New  Orleans,  a  captain  in  the  Spanish  service,  with 

Count  Ulloa  in  1766.     He  was  married  in  that  city 

to  Felicite  Portneuf ,  a  French  lady  of  the  place,  and 

came  to  St.  Louis  with  his  family  in  the  spring  of 

1770.     On  May  20  of  that  year  Capt.  St.  Ange  de 

Bellerive  delivered  over  to  him  the  possession  of  this 

Upper  Louisiana,  and  from  that  date  the  Spanish  rule 

on  this  side  commenced. 

7  (97) 


98  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

The  first  official  act  of  Gov.  Piernas  was  the 
appointment  of  M.  Milony  Duralde  to  survey  tlie 
lines  of  the  village  lots  and  out-lots  that  had  been 
granted  to  individuals  by  his  predecessors,  the  French 
authoi'ities. 

A  small  temporary  log  cha^iol  was  erected  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  cluu'ch  block  —  a  tent  having 
heretofore  served  the  purpose. 

In  this  chapel  the  Revd.  Father  Gibault,  curate  of 
Kaskaskia,  who  paid  the  new  village  an  occasional 
visit,  celebrated  his  fiist  baptism  in  8t.  Louis  on  June 
20,  1770,  that  of  Felicite  M.,  infant  daughter  of 
Lieut.  Picote  do  Belestre,  and  grand-daughter  of 
Neyon  de  Villiers,  the  last  French  governor  of  Upper 
Illinois. 

Under  the  laws  and  customs  of  Paris  and  Castile 
in  force  in  the  provinces  of  France  and  Spain,  the 
governors  exercised  the  powers  and  prerogatives  of 
courts  of  justice  for  the  trial  of  venial  offenses. 
Several  cases  of  this  nature  were  heard  by  Gov. 
Piernas,  —  that  of  Michael  Galas  for  slander,  June 
23 ;  Amable  Letourneau  for  seditious  language, 
August  27 ;  and  one  Jeannot  for  immoral  conduct 
and  disturbance,  September  17,  and  each  one  found 
guilty  and  sentenced  to  ten  years  banishment  from 
the  province,  under  penalty  of  being  jjublicly  chas- 
tised should  he  dare  to  return. 


AN  AGREEMENT.  09 


AN    AOUEEMENT. 


"  Before  us,  Don  Pedro  Tiernas,  captain  of  infantry,  lieuten- 
ant governor  of  the  establlHliment  of  tlie  IlliiioiH,  l)elongiDg  to 
his  Catliolic  majesty,  personally  appeared  Mr.  Louis  Diard,  iner- 
rhant,  usually  at  New  Orleans,  at  present  at  the  post  of  St.  Louis, 
of  one  part,  and  Mr.  John  Datchurut,  also  a  merchant,  residing 
at  the  post  of  St.  Genevieve,  an<l  at  present  also  in  this  post  of 
St.  Louis.     Said  parties,  of  their  free  will  and  accord,  to  termi- 
nate the  suit  between  them  concerning  a  boot  that  Mr.  Diard  had 
loaned  to  Mr.  Datchurut,  whicii  boat  liaving  descended  to  New 
Orleans  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Datchurut,  had  given  an  oppor- 
tunity to  Mr.  Diart  to  cause  Mr.  Datchurut  to  appear  before  his 
lordship,  Don  Luis  Unzaga,  Governor-general  of  Louisiana,  who, 
on  the  demand,  principally  of  Mr.  Diart,  rendered  a  judgment 
against  Mr.  Datchurut  on  the  2(]th  of  January,  1770,  which  con- 
demned him  to  keep  on  bis  own  account  all  the  goods  that  ]\Ir. 
Diart  would  have  taken  down  in  his  said  boat.     Said  decree  was 
signified  to  Mr.  Datchurut  at  New  Orleans,  to  Mr.  Duralde,  his 
agent,  and  was  on  the  point  of  being  executed,  according  to  the 
order  in  the  form  of  a  decree,  ordained  by  us   the  commandant, 
on  the  petition  of  Mr.  Diart,  the  28th  of  May  last.     But  the  said 
parties  wishing  to  end  and  put  a  stop  to  a  suit,  which  might  be 
ruinous  to  both,  and  avoid  all  prosecutions,  have  bj-  tliese  pres- 
ents agreed,  and  do  agree  before  us,  to  refer  to  three  ex-^jcrt  arbi- 
trators, knowing  their  business,  to  whom  each  will   relate   his 
reasons  and  argument,  and  make  their  award  binding  on  them, 
and  observe  it,  in  all  its  particulars  to  its  full  extent,  so  that 
neitlier  can  appeal  to  any  other  tribunal  in  consequence  of  their 
decision.     And  to  accomplish   said  agreement,  said   Mr.  Diart 
names  as  his  arbitrator  Mr.  Perrault,  mercliant,  at  present  in  this 
post  of  St.  Louis ;  and   Mr.  Datchurut  for  his  arbitrator,  Mr. 
Laclede  Liguest,  also  merchant  in  this  place,  and  in  case  of  disa- 
greement between  these  two  arbitrators  just  named,  we  name  for 
the  third,  Mr.  Lambert  Lafleur,  lieutenant  of  militia  and  mer- 
chant, to  whom  the  two  parties  will  submit  their  cases  and  docu- 


100  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

merits,  for  their  final  award,  to  be  carried  out  according  to  its 
tenor. 

"  Tlie  same  to  be  submitted  to  us  for  confirmation. 

"  Thus  it  has  been  agreed  and  granted.  Done  and  executed  in 
the  Government  Hall  at  St.  Louis,  tlie  year  1770,  the  1st  of  June, 
in  presence  of  Milony  Tiv^'-alde,  merchant,  and  Joseph  Labusciere, 
scrivener,  who  with  ihe  two  pai'ties  and  we,  the  commandant, 
have  signed  the  same  after  being  read. 

"  L.  DiARD,  J.  Dachurut, 

M.  MiLONY   DURALDE,       LaBUSCIERE,  PeDRO   PiERNAS." 

"  Considering  the  foregoing  agreement,  we  order  that  Messrs. 
Perrault,  Laclede  and  Lambert  heretofore  named,  will  decide  the 
matter  between  Messrs.  Diart  and  Datchurut,  and  will  make  re- 
port to  us  of  their  award  in  the  case,  to  be  made  known  to  whom 
it  may  concern. 

'•  St.  Louis,  June  1,  1770. 

"  Pedro  Piernas." 

"  Messrs.  Diard  and  Datchurut  liaving  agreed  in  writing  on  the 
first  day  of  the  present  month,  before  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, military  and  civil,  to  have  appraised  by  us  and 
Mr.  Lambert  (appointed  umpire  by  Mr.  Piernas,  in  case  of  disa- 
greement between  us),  the  damages  and  interests  that  have  re- 
sulted to  Mr.  Diard,  in  the  detention  of  the  peltries  and  flour, 
deposited  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Louis  Chamard,  at  St.  Genevieve, 
and  for  which  there  had  been  an  award  rendered  at  New  Orleans, 
January  2G,  1770,  by  Messrs.  Breau  and  Rincon,  and  confirmed 
by  a  decree  of  Don  Luis  Unzaga,  governor  of  the  province 
of  Louisiana,  on  same  date  at  foot  of  said  award,  condemn- 
ing the  said  Datchurat  to  pay  the  said  Diard,  at  New  Orleans, 
for  the  said  peltries  and  flour,  at  their  value  there  at  the  time 
said  Diard  arrived  there,  to  commence  his  suit  against  said 
Datchurut. 

"Considering  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  upon  mature 
reflection,  deeming  it  unnecessary  to  call  in  Mr.  Lafleur,  the 


AGREEMENT.  101 

umpire,  we  have  adjudged  and  decided  that  Mr.  Diard  should  be 
indemnified  for  his  losses  by  Mr.  Datchurut  at  the  same  rate  that 
his  means  lying  at  New  Orleans,  niiglit  have  produced  him  in  the 
Illinois  country  if  he  had  gone  up  there  to  trade.  In  conseqvicnce 
of  this  abstraction,  expenses  of  coming  up,  and  expenses  of. 
boarding  and  storage  incurred  during  a  certain  period  ;  consider- 
ing, also,  that  if  he  had  had  the  funds  in  litigation,  the  risks  he 
would  run,  as  much  in  coming  up  from  New  Orleans  to  the  Illi- 
nois country,  as  those  he  would  incur  in  the  sale  of  his  effects,  the 
proceeds  of  which  are  only  realized  after  long  waiting.  We 
appraise  the  damages  and  interest  that  Mr.  Datchurut  has  occa- 
sioned Mr.  Diard  at  thirty-five  per  cent,  which  Datchurut  will 
nay  him  on  demand,  on  the  amount  accruing  from  the  goods 
detained  (a  statement  of  which  will  be  appended  by  us  below), 
in  conformity  to  the  award  made  by  Messrs.  Breau  and  Rincon, 
confirmed  by  the  governor  at  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Diard  not  to 
claim  anything  more.  And  as  to  Messrs.  St.  Pierre  Jussiam  and 
Dupre,  joint  claimants  with  Diard  as  freighters,  we  have  i)ut  off 
the  decision  of  their  claim,  and  adjudge  that  Mr.  Datchurut  will 
account  to  them  for  their  capital  at  the  same  rate  of  35  % ,  as 
soon  as  Messrs.  Jussiam  and  Dupre  may  demand  it.  It  is  not  to 
be  taken  from  the  bill  of  expenses,  allowed  by  tlie  judges  to  Mr. 
Diard  in  going  to  New  Orleans,  which  is  to  be  repaid  him  as  the 
decision  prescribes ;  and  as  to  the  legal  expenses  incurred  bj-  Mr. 
Diard,  he  will  make  a  faithful  account  of  them,  which  Mr. 
Datchurat  will  refund  him. 

"  Executed  in  good  faith,  at  St.  Louis,  June  9,  1770. 

"  Peruault,  Laclede  Liguest,  Lambeut, 

L.  DiAKD,  DfPKE,  Datchurut, 

St.  Pierre  Jussaume." 


102  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


EMANCIPATION   BY   LOUIS  VILLAR8. 

"  To  Don  Pedro  Piernas^  Captain  of  Infantry  of  the  Regiment  of 

Louisiana,  Lieut.-Governor  of  the  Establishments  of  his  Catholic 

Majesty  at  the  Illinois : 

"Sib  —  Louis  Villars,  Heut.  of  infantry,  in  the  battallion  of 
Louisiana,  humbly  prays  you,  that  he  is  the  owner  of  a  negress 
named  Julie,  about  thirty  years  of  age ;  that  she  has  rendered 
him  great  services  for  a  number  of  years,  especially  luring  two 
severe  sicknesses  your  petitioner  has  undergone.  The  zeal  and 
attachment  she  exhibited  in  his  service  having  completely  ruined 
her  health,  he  desires  to  set  her  at  liberty  with  a  view  to  its 
restoration. 

"  For  this  purpose  he  respectfully  supplicates  your  approbation, 
and,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

«  St.  Louis,  June  2,  1770. 

"  Louis  Villars. 

"  In  view  of  the  present  petition  and  statement,  to  second  the 
good  dispositions  of  Mr.  Villars,  and  knowing  said  negro  woman 
to  be  of  good  conduct  and  behavior,  we  do,  by  these  presents, 
grant  her  full  and  entire  liberty,  and  declare  her  from  this  day 
free  and  enfranchised,  to  enjoy,  she  and  the  children  of  early  age 
she  may  have,  all  the  7'ights  and  privileges  granted  to  the  enfran- 
chised, requesting  all  commandants  and  governors  under  whom 
the  said  Julia  and  children  may  find  themselves,  to  cause  them  to 
enjoy  said  privileges,  on  the  condition  that  said  Julia  bring  by  her 
good  conduct,  respect  and  honor  on  said  Mr.  Villars,  on  pain  of 
being  returned  to  her  first  condition  of  servitude. 

"  Done  in  the  chamber  of  the  government  of  Illinois  at  St. 
Louis,  June  3,  1770,  in  presence  of  Messrs.  Datchurut  and  Sarpy, 
merchants,  witnesses,  residing  on  the  Spanish  side,  who  have 
signed  with  us. 

"  Datchurut, 
"Sarpy, 

"  PlERNAS." 


MASSE  AND  LABASTILLE.  103 


PETITION   OF   MASSE  AND   LABASTILLE. 

To  Mr.  Don  Pedro  Pierjuis,  Captain  of  Infantry,  and  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  the  Establishments  of  the  Illinois  and  its  dependen- 
cies, belonging  to  his  Catholic  Majesty: 

"  Your  humble  petitioners,  Pierre  Mass^,  alias  Picart,  and  John 
Bap.  Labastille,  lead  miners,  living  at  the  ^^  Miiie  Lamnthe," 
respectfully  represent  that  they  took  out  lead  and  ore  on  a  piece 
of  land  at  that  place.  Mine  Lamothe,  that  they  alwavs  believed  to 
be  part  of  the  Roj'al  Domain,  They  were  much  sui  prised  that, 
after  they  had  done  considerable  work,  and  had  taken  out :  the 
said  Picart  about  eighteen  thousand  pounds  of  lead,  and  de  la 
Bastille  about  two  thousand  pounds,  they  were  interrupted  by  one 
Laroze,  a  miner,  who  forbid  tliera  to  continue  their  labor,  and  at 
same  time  seized  their  lead  and  mineral,  in  the  name  of  Mr. 
Datchurut,  a  creditor  of  said  Laroze,  from  whom  this  last  had 
acquired  the  said  land.  The  petitioners  always  were,  and  still 
are,  ignorant  whether  the  land  where  they  worked  was  acquired  by 
the  said  Laroze,  as  he  only  had  it  surveyed  long  after  your  peti- 
tioners had  taken  out  their  ore,  and  that  he  never  could  shew  them 
his  lines.  Considering  this,  sir,  your  petitioners  have  recourse  on 
you,  and  think  that  as  said  Laroze  did  not  have  his  land  meas- 
ured, and  his  lines  established  before  the  work  done  by  your  peti- 
tioners, that  the  replevy  of  their  lead  be  granted  them ;  and  in 
case  thej'  are  not  on  the  six  arpents  square  of  said  Laroze,  ac- 
quired from  said  Datchurat,  that  they  be  protected  in  continuing 
their  labor,  and  do  justice,  and  will  ever  pray  for  your  prosperity. 
"St.  Louis,  Nov.  30,  1770. 

"  Pierre  Mass6  Mark  of 

"      his    X  mark.  x 

"Picart.  Labastille. 

"  Considering  the  petition,  and  the  papers  produced  to  us  by 
Mr.  Datchurut,  relating  to  the  ownership  of  the  six  arpents  square 
of  land,  according  to  the  grant  made  to  Chatal  and  Gagnon,  the 
deed  of  sale  of  Chatal  and  Gagnon  to  Mr.  Bloin,  the  sale  of  Mr. 
Bloin  to  Mr.  Datchurut,  and  the  sale  by  Datchurut  to  Laroze : 


104  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUia. 

we  have  ordered,  and  do  order,  that  in  default  of  Laroze  having 
measured  and  marked  his  land,  that  the  said  Picart  and  Labastille 
may  take  away  their  lead  and  mineral  which  was  seized  by  Datch- 
urut  and  Laroze.  We  grant  a  replevin  on  the  said  seizure  of  lead, 
which  was  illegal  against  Picart  and  Labastille,  directing  them  to 
withdraw  from  the  six  arpens  square,  if  they  are  found  to  be  on 
it,  by  an  exact  measurement,  the  centre  of  which  shall  be  the  hole 
which  was  made  upon  the  first  discovery  of  the  lead.  Releasing 
Mr,  Datchurut  from  all  demands,  as  security  for  said  Laroze  on 
the  grant  of  the  six  arpents  square  of  land  sold  by  him  to  said 
Laroze,  to  whom  and  to  his  heirs  we  regrant  it,  based  upon  the 
title  exhibited  to  us  by  Da*churut,  and  direct  that  the  contract  of 
sale  between  them  shall  have  its  full  force. 

Given  in  the  government  hall. 

"St.  Louis,  Dec.  1,  1770. 

"P.  PlERNAS,  Gov." 


BOND   OF    3IR.    KENISTEDY. 

"  Before  us,  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantr}',  and  lieu- 
tenant-governor of  the  establishments  and  dependencies  of  the 
Illinois,  personally  appeared  Mr.  Matthew  Kennedy,  merchant, 
residing  ordinarily  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  now  in  St.  Louis,  who,  by 
these  presents,  acknowledges  to  be  indebted  to  Mr.  Antoine 
Berard,  also  a  merchant  in  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  the  amount  of 
2,100  livres  in  specie  dollars,  the  balance  of  a  sum  of  3,400  livres 
15  sols,  which  the  said  A.  Berard  loaned  him  at  New  Orleans,  the 
7th  of  Sept.  of  the  past  year,  to  complete  the  outfit  and  cargo 
of  the  last  boat  he  dispatched  to  this  upper  countrj-,  on  condition 
that,  on  his  arrival  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  he  would  reimburse  him, 
but  not  being  able  to  fulfill  his  engagement  to  this  day,  and  being 
about  to  ship  a  lot  of  flour  arising  from  the  sale  of  said  cargo, 
said  Kennedy,  to  secure  to  Mr.  Berard  the  payment  of  the  above 
amount  of  2,100  livres  still  due  him,  mortgages  for  that  purpose 
all  the  flour  that  he  will  send  down  from  this  country  of  Illinois, 
etc.,  especially  the  quantity  of  12,000  lbs.  which  he  is  about  to 
send   at  once  to  the  post  of  Arkansas.     Of  this  quantity  Mr. 


JNO.  M.  BUTAUD'S  INVENTORY.  105 

Kennedj'  agrees  that  Mr.  Berard  shall  receive  the  paj'ment  in  his 
stead  to  the  extent  of  the  amount  of  the  balance  due  him,  for 
which  purpose  Mr.  Kennedy  will  deliver  to  Mr.  Berard  a  draft  for 
the  amount  due  him  on  Mr.  Orietta,  commandant  at  said  post  of 
Arkansas ;  and  if  by  any  unforeseen  circumstance  the  trip  is  pre- 
vented, or  the  payment  suspended  from  any  other  cause,  said 
Kennedy  gives  to  Mr.  Berard  the  same  mortgage  and  security,  as 
well  on  this  last  quantity  of  flour,  if  by  any  chance  it  should  pass 
the  post  of  Arkansas  and  go  down  to  New  Orleans,  as  on  all  he 
may  send  down  by  other  occasions,  until  the  balance  due  him  is 
fully  paid  up. 

"  Done  in  the  government  chamber,  in  jjresence  of  Messrs. 
Laclede  and  Milony  Duralde,  requisite  witnesses,  who  have  signed 
with  us  this  day,  April  4,  1771,  at  St.  Louis,  of  Illinois. 

"  A.  Berard,  Matthew  Kennedy, 

"  M.  MiLON^  Duralde,  Laclede  Liouest, 

"  Piernas." 


JXO.    B.    BUTAUD'S    INn:XTORY. 

"On  this  day.  May  17,  1771,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  we,  Don 
Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantry,  lieutenant-governor  of  the 
establishments  of  the  Illinois  and  its  dependencies,  belonging  to 
his  Catholic  majesty,  at  the  request  of  Jno.  Bap.  Sarpy,  mer- 
chant, wlio  informed  us  that  Jno.  Bapt.  Butaud  dit  Brindamour 
had  just  died  in  his  house  of  a  natural  sickness,  and  who  re- 
quested us  to  repair  there  to  take  an  inventory  of  the  effects  left 
by  him,  where  we  went,  and  in  the  presence  of  Jno.  B.  Hervieux, 
gunsmith,  and  Jno.  Bap.  Ortes,  carpenter,  Mr.  Sarpy  showed  us 
the  following  articles :  — 

First,   G    white    linen     shirts,  1  Beaufort  bed  sheet. 

good  and  bad.  2  blanket  capots,  half  worn. 

2  shirts,  red  cotton,  checked.  1  blue  jacket,  1  pr.  blue  wool 

2  shirts,  blue,  do.  stockings,  half  worn. 

3  pair  large  cotton  breeches.  4  pairs  old  shoes. 


106  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

6   cotton    handkerchiefs,   good  a  feather  bed  with  a  skin  cover. 

and  bad.  a  buffalo  robe,  a  pillow,  and  an 

2  pair  large  breeches,  cholet.  old  couch. 

1  vest,  1  jacket  of  white  cotton.  an  old  gun,  and  hat.  7  pewter 

1  cottonade  jacket.  spoons,  and  a  plate. 

1   old  red  cloth    |Vest,    an   old  2  iron  forks,  pair  scissors,  pair 

trunk.  brass  buckles. 

"  Mr.  Marie  sa3'8  the  deceased  told  him  '  t'jat  Laurent  owed  him 
a  small  amount,  he  does  not  know  how  much.' 

"  L'etang  owes  him  something,  he  don't  know  how  much." 

"  Mr.  Sarpy  declares  that  the  deceased  gave  him  a  note  of  Mr. 
Hubert  to  take  care  of,  which  he  handed  to  us,  saying  '  the  de- 
ceased was  awaiting  the  payment  of  the  note  to  pay  his  own 
debts. '     The  note  reads :  — 

"  '  I  will  pay  to  the  order  of  Brindaraour,  Senr.,  in  the  course 
of  May  next,  the  sum  of  five  hundred  livres  in  peltries,  deer 
skins,  or  beaver,  for  his  wages,  and  iu  full  payment  of  all 
accounts  with  him  to  tuis  day. 

St.  Louis,  this  15th  February,  1771. 

'  [Signed]  Hubert.' 

"  And  after  diligent  search,  and  said  Sarpy  said  there  was 
nothing  more  to  his  knowledge,  the  said  note  copied  above,  with 
the  other  effects  in  this  inventory,  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Alexis  Marie,  his  brother-in-law,  who  relieves  the  said  Sarpy,  and 
who  promises  to  produce  all  when  so  required  by  us,  and  as  a 
depositary  of  fees  of  justice. 

"  W.  S.  Segond,  Oktes,  Marie,  Sarpy." 


BOND   OP    LUPIEN. 

"  Before  me,  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantry,  lieuten- 
ant-governor of  the  establishments  of  the  Illinois  and  dependen- 
cies belonging  to  his  Catholic  majesty, 

"  Was  personally  present  Peter  Lupien,  called  Baron,  a  joiner, 
and  militia  officer,  residing  at  the  post  of  St.  Louis,  who  by  these 


DETAILLY'S   INVENTORY.  107 

presents  acknowledges  to  owe,  and  promises  to  pay  to  Mr.  Eugene 
Poure,  called  Bean  Soliel  (bright  sun),  militia  ofHcer,  merchant 
at  post  St.  Louis,  present  and  agreeing,  the  sum  of  498  livres  and 
2  sols,  in  beaver  or  deer  skins  as  current  in  this  place  of  St.  Louis, 
subject  to  examination,  and  this  for  good  and  marketable  mer- 
chandises which  the  said  Beau  Soliel  has  sold,  advanced  and  de- 
livered to  Mr.  Baron  in  his  need,  and  at  his  request,  which  he 
thus  acknowledges. 

''  Said  sum  of  498  livres  and  2  sols,  said  P.  Lupien,  Baron, 
promises  and  pledges  himself  to  pay  and  deliver  to  said  Mr. 
Beau  Soliel  or  the  bearer  of  the  present,  in  all  the  month  of  May 
of  the  following  year,  1772,  without  fail,  on  pain  of  all  costs, 
damages  and  interest.  And  as  security  for  the  said  sura,  the 
said  Lupien,  alius  Baron,  has  by  these  presents,  pledged  and 
mortgaged  a  billiard  table  which  he  has  set  up  in  this  place,  St. 
Louis,  comprising  a  building,  billiard  table,  cloth,  maces,  queues 
and  balls,  and  four  feet  of  ground  around  said  billiard  room  — 
which  billiard  the  said  Baron  can  neither  sell  or  dispose  of,  until 
said  Beau  Soliel  is  fully  paid,  but  must  remain  exclusively 
pledged  to  the  payment  of  the  amount  due  Beau  Soliel. 

"  For  thus  it  has  been  agreed,  &c.,  &c.,  by  the  parties. 

"Done  in  St.  Louis,  in  the  government  chamber,  in  presence 

of  Messrs.  Joseph  Labusciere  and  Benito  Vasquez,  witnesses, 

who,  with  us,  the  commandant,  have  signed  these  presents. 

"July  9,  1771. 

"Baron,  Labusciere,  Witness, 

"  PiERNAs,  Benito  Basquez." 


detailly's  inventory. 

"October  25,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sevent^'-one,  at 
8  o'clock  a.  m.,  before  me,  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infan- 
try, lieutenant-governor  of  the  establishments  of  the  Illinois  and 
dependencies  belonging  to  his  Catholic  majesty: 

"According  to  the  information  we  have  just  received  that 
Denau  Detailly  had  just  died,  who  was  interpreter  at  this  poste,  I 
repaired  immediately  to  the  house  where  he  died,  accompanied  by 


108  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 

don  Antonio  De  Oro,  officer  of  this  garrison,  Mr.  Alvarez,  ser- 
geant, and  Mr.  Josepli  Labusciere,  and  Mr.  Rene  Kiersereau, 
where  wo  found  an  Indian  woman,  his  wife  legally  married,  whom 
we  told  to  produce  to  us  the  effects  which  said  Detailly  left,  and 
there  being  no  place  to  wliichwe  could  affix  our  seals,  said  widow 
Detailly  presented  them  as  follows :  — 

"An  old  feather  bed  covered  with  skin,  another  with  ticking, 
four  delf  plates,  an  earthen  pan,  7  pewter  spoons,  4  iron  forks,  an 
axe,  a  saw,  a  tin  pan,  shovel,  an  oven,  a  table,  four  old  chairs, 
two  sheets,  two  pair  old  cotton  breeches,  ragged  and  holy,  a  shirt 
worn  and  torn,  an  old  blanket  coat,  a  straw  hat,  and  mittens,  a 
paper  parcel,  we  did  not  examine,  but  took  to  tlie  commander  for 
that  purpose.  She  declared  there  was  due  to  her  by  one  Mongrain 
thirt}'  liwes  for  a  pirogue  sold  to  him,  which  is  all  said  widow  de- 
clared she  knew  of,  and  not  being  able  to  write,  made  her  mark 
to  the  same,  day  and  year  above. 

"Rene  Kieusereau,        Eugene   Alvarez,         N.  Chabot, 
"  Labusciere,        Antonio  De  Oro." 


1771,  !N'ov.  16th.  — The  first  auction  sale  on  rec- 
ord in  the  Archives  of  St.  Louis  was  of  a  box  of 
packs  of  playing  cards.  It  took  but  little  time  to 
get  the  people  together  at  this  sale,  for  besides 
fiddling  and  dancing,  cards  and  billiards  were  about 
the  only  amusements  in  the  village  at  that  early  day. 

The  bell  ringer  went  through  the  village  ringing 
his  bell  and  crying  out  loudly  the  purpose  of  it,  and 
a  sale  of  playing  cards  drew  at  once  the  whole  vil- 
lage, ladies  and  all,  as  we  find  amongst  the  purchas- 
ers the  governor's  lady,  and  another  noted  lady  of 
the  place,  La  Giroflee  (Gilly  flower),  who,  it  ap- 


VIGES  TRUNK.  109 

pears,  must  have  been  fond  of  cards,  as  she  was  the 
fii'st  purchaser,  and  ])aid  the  highest  ])rice  for  three 
packs.     They  went  off  like  hot  cakes. 

CONTENTS   OF   VIGE's   TRUNK. 


u 


The  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-two,  the 
18th  March,  at  9  o'clock  a.  m.,  by  order  of  Don  Pedro  Piernas, 
captain  of  infantry,  lieutenant-governor  of  the  establishments  of 
the  Illinois,  we,  Augustin  Nicholas  Vincent,  sergeant  of  the  gar- 
rison at  this  post,  Benito  Basquez  and  Pedro  Baron,  militia  offi- 
cer, we  repaired  to  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Gautier  to  open  a  trunk 
belonging  to  one  named  Vige,  a  fugitive,  in  presence  of  witnesses 
we  have  inventoried  it  as  follows,  viz :  — 

Livres.      Sous. 

A  trunk  without  a  key 10 

An  iron  stamp  of  two  letters 1         10 

A  scraper  to  siiave  skins 5 

A  handle  of  a  rudder 2         10 

An  iron  curling  tongs,  unserviceable 10 

A  plane  bit 15 

A  lottery  pointer 2 

10  packs  cards 

3  old  calines 1 

18         10      83.70 

"  Fourteen  old  billiard  balls,  2  brushes,  a  billiard  marker,  all 
part  of  Vien's  billiard  table. 

"  Vincent,  Baron   and  Benito  Basquez,  witnesses. 

"  I  received  this  amount  in  payment  for  450  lbs.  of  flour  which 
Vige  owes  me,  for  that  amount  I  paid  for  him  to  one  of  his  hands. 
"  St.  Louis,  March  18,  1772. 

"  Vincent." 


110 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


JEAN   LOUIS   LAMBERT, 

a  mcrehaiit  and  militia  officer,  came  early  to  St.  Louis, 
he  died  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  Decoml)er  2G,  1771,  his 
widow,  Catherine  Lepine,  then  at  New  Orleans,  with 
her  six  children,  Louis  15,  Catherine  12,  Martiniere 
10,  Marianna  8,  Felicite  4,  and  Leonora  18  months, 
applied  to  the  governor-general  in  that  city,  ISIarch 
17,  1772,  for  authority  to  have  an  inventory  taken  of 
his  property  in  St.  Louis.  The  inventory  was  taken 
July  29,  1772,  in  presence  of  the  Lieut. -Governoj- ; 
Louis  Duhreuil  andAug't  Conde,  appraisers;  Pierre 
Chamard,  attorney. 


Livre$.  Sotu. 

1  Trunk 

20 

5  Handkerchiels,  VJ. 

60 

4 

do. 

8. 

32 

1 

do. 

Silk. 

10 

$ 

do. 

<;. 

48 

8 

do. 

2_ 

6 

1 

do. 

1 

18 

do. 

4. 

C     10 

2  pr. 

,  Stockings,  silk, 

5 

10 

24 

do. 

3 

72 

1 

do. 

2 

2 

do. 

1 

2 

22  Shirts,  8... 

176 

4  Night  caps, 

10  so;s 

,  • 

2 

4 

do. 

10 

2 

6 

do. 

15 

4     10 

4  Drawers, 

Lie 

6 

1 

do. 

5 

1  Sword  belt. . 

, 

33 

Livre*.  Sou*. 

1        do 30 

1  Umbrella 30 

1  do 20 

Ribbon 12       02 

Silk 4 

Thread 4 

Pins 1       10 

2  Mattreses,  20 40 

1  Feather  bed 20 

1  Blanket 30 

1  Coverlet 15 

2  Sheets,  10 20 

1  Bed  curtain 40 

1  Pillow  casr 1       10 

Calico 2 

3  Table  cloths,  4.10 13       10 

1  Gun  &  horn 50 

3  Cravats,  3  sols 15 

1  Gold  watch 200 


LAMBERT'S  INVENTORY. 


Ill 


tivrei.  Soui. 

1  Gold  button 25 

1  Sll.  snuff  box 80 

3  Fair  all.  buckles,  15.  45 

8  do            7.10  22     10 
1  Sll.  cross 15 

1  Sll.  cap 20 

1  Sil.  spoon 25 

1        do         15 

1  Sll.  forks,  16 30 

2  do.  rings,  2.10 6 

3004  Dollars 1,532     10 

1  Regimental  cu<i> 80 

1        do.         vestb,  30.  CO 

1  Red  velvet 30 

1  Camlet  do 20 

2  Summer  do.  15 30 

9  do.  10  90 

1        do.  5 

1        do.  8 

1        :lo 2    10 

6        do.  2 10 

1  Pair  breeches 12 

4  do.         8 32 

3  do.         C 18 

I  do 1     10 

1  Hat 20 

1  do 10 

Indian  pipe ti 


Uvrti.  Sous. 

Hunting  knife 12 

1  lb.  Powder I        5 

Ox  hair 10 

2  Purses,  5 10 

2  Looking;  glasses,  (3... .  13 

Yardctick 8 

Candlestick 2       10 

Brush 10 

Powder  buy 1         6 

Clock 26 

Muff S 

Capot 1         8 

Curling  Iron 15 

Plates 12 

Tureen 4 

Bottles 5 

Basket 2       10 

Bowl 10 

Pot 2 

2  do.  2.10 5 

Copper  kettle 5 

Barrel 1       10 

Bird  &  cage 2       10 

Deer  skins 63 

Dressed  do 70 

Sundries 48        5 

3,347       17 


MEMORANDA   OF   NOTES,    OBLIGATIONS,   ETC.,    DUE   HIM. 


No.  Livrtt.  Soui. 

12  Francois  Marc  St.Geu     289 

13  Thomas  Bernie 72    12 

14  Blouinat  Kas 116 

15  Perrln 1,200 

IG  Bulchy 25 

17  Vaudry,  St.  Louis.. .        82 

18  Cond6,  to  collect.... 20, 327     7 

19  Same,  goods 1,025   10 

22  Blouln,  Kas,to  collect      558     5 
24  Sans  Chagrin 14 


Ko. 

63  Claude  Roussel. 

64  Same 

65  Carriard 

60  Pierre  Oliver... 

67  Pierre  Abel 

68  Decoigne 

00  Bazile  Dauoyer. 
70TousGalllard.... 

71  Francois 

72Tous  GalUard... 


Livra.  Soui. 

60 
.       454 

60 
.      360 

91 
.       120 

40 
.       190 

30 

35 


112 


ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUW. 


Livru.  Sous, 

25  Muslin  Barbp 104 

2C  Barrd- 11     5 

27  Duchemln 40     2 

2eOullle  Paget 13     6 

at)  Chamard 200 

30  Ant(5  ReRls 903    10 

31  Baiulry 2» 

fl2  Laiuarguilliere     (to 

collect) 2,815   16 

33  Francois  FranclMcu^.  18 

3G  Several  orders 212  10 

37  Jacques  Renard 688   12 

38  Juan  De  Larifp 8G2   12 

39  Bols  I)or6 20   12 

40  Joseph  Blalf (i5   12 

41  Joseph  Lafleur 32 

42  Pierre  Montardy ... .  1,955 

43  Kenneday  100 

44Pertul8,  Senr 12   10 

45  Cavalier  Brother- .. .  3,(i97   13.fi 

46  Joseph  Cochon 123   19.C 

60  to  55 1,272     5 

57  Noel  Galllen 70 

58  Antolne  CoulUard ...  133 

59  Ant6  Mallet,  et  als. .  200 

GO  Bernard  Moran 25 

Gl  Toussaint  Gaillard..  400 
C2  Francois  Jean  Morrisot    1 50 


LlrrM.  Sou$. 

73  Lu  Ooffre,  aHa$    Le 

Bretan G4 

74  Martin  the  Spaniard.  215 

75  Pelletler C7   10 

7G  St.  Marc 75 

77  Joseph  Oliver 24 

78  Denis  Dufanlx 77    10 

79  LIssot 844 

Lefebvre  Debrulsseau  4H0 
Datcherut  (to  collect)  17,539     9.8 

Legrain 61 

St.     Germain,    bot. 

brandy 5 

OrainraoD,  do 5 

Paul  Segond 80 

Dorloncourt 308 

Sans    Quartier  (bot. 

Rhuin) 5     * 

Vincent  Lesperancc.  2C5 

Mat.  Kenneday 79 

Table 5 

Bedstead 10 

Desk 25 

3  pieces  Iron,  15 46 

House  &  lot 1,000 


G3,830     3.2 


ITEMS   OF   NO.    30. 


Livres.  Sous. 

Labonne,  2  bot.  wine....  10 

Mallet,  18  lbs.  peltries  . .  36 

Motard,  4  lbs.  nails 8 

Do.    2  lbs.  sugar 0 

Do.    a  blanket 30 

Labusciere,  3  lbs.  nails..  G 
Do.  bottle  Rhum.  5 
Do.        5  yds.  cord..       1       10 

Do.        nails 15 

Do.        bottle  wine..       5 


Livres.  Sous. 

Resar,  2  bottles  wine 12 

Debrulsseau,  4  bars  soap  51 

Same,  peltries 12 

Hervieux,  14  lbs.  nails..  3 

Lapierre,  bottle  wine 5 

Laville,  yard  &  i  ribbon.  4        10 

Cottin,  quart  brandy.. ..  2       10 


212 


10 


JEAN  DELAOE'S  WILL. 


113 


ITKMti   NO.    18   WITH   CONUi. 


Ltvru.  Sou*. 

NIchS  Royer 474     17 

Jno.  H.  Faplllon.. 

Morlflscy  &  Co 3,422 

L.  Jt  B.  DcBuoyei-" 

Aut.  De  Oro 

Chas.  l)u  Chfinln. 
Sans  Qimrtler. . . . 

Miircclml 

FiUbusclere 

Bar.xalon 

Fcaiich6 C82 

Grainoii <>5 

Bloiilu 708 

Case  iH'iive 75 

Louis  IJlanclH't 1,438 

Sans  Quartler 5 

Jullen  Le  Uoy 83 

I) iiincois  Cadlcn 103 

Seraplilm 12C 

(Sigue<l) 


423 

17.« 

422 

10 

l(i3 

V) 

145 

8 

47 

yij 

105 

12 

12;» 

12 

51 

15 

17 


10 
15 


Lofcbvre  &  Carrosp. . . , 

Ilurvleux 

Azfau,  ulli  I  Berthoiiil 

Molan' 

I'lerro  llulx  rt 

Plrro(|uet 

nerthoud  &  Pli()(|iM't.. 

Francois  Harbe 

Clatiile  Tlnon 

Ciauilralii 

Oranion,  7  bot.  Rliiini. 

Francois  Piclmrd 

LaviRui',  tailor 

Martipny 137 

LomIs  VIkc 100 

The  Troops 4'.)0 

Small  bills 472 


IT««. 

Soui, 

181 

6.0 

67 

10 

24 

102 

10 

85 

81 

10 

8 

10 

lt!6 

31 

30 

35 

8 

10 

44 

10,300 
Louis  Dubrkuii.  —  AuG'xCoNDfe,  Appraisers. 
I'lKKRE  CiiAMAKi),  AUori.cy. 

P.    PiKRNm 


11 


JEAN   DELAGE'S   will,    ETC. 

"Substaucc  of  the  will  of  Jean  Delage,  born  in  the  parish  i)f  St. 
Pierre  d'Olien,  Angoumois,  diocese  of  Perigueux,  France. 

"At  St.  Louis,  July  10,  1772,  at  I(»  o'clock  a.  m.,  before  Lieut. 
Don  Antonio  ile  Oro,  Governor  Piornas  being  absent  at  St.  Gen- 
evieve. 

"First. — He  commends  his  soul  to  God,  to  the  glorious  Virgin 
M.ary.  to  Holy  St.  Jolin  tlic  Baptist,  his  patron  saint,  and  to  all 
the  Saints  of  Paradise,  beseeching  tliem  with  compunction  and 
repentance  to  implore  the  Almighty  to  place  his  soul  in  tiie  king- 
dom of  the  blessed. 

"He  leaves  all  he  possesses  to  Alexander  Langlois,  as  a  testimony 
of  acknowledgment  for  favors  received  from  him. 

"  He  thinks  he  is  not  under  obligations  to  include  his  relatives 
among  his  heirs,  because  it  has  all  been  acquired  by  his  own  labor. 

8 


114  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 

lu  presence  of  Silvester  Labbadio,  Louis  Blondcau,  Josepli  La- 
brosse,  Joseph  Tiiillou  and  JeanCanibas,  witnesses. 
Approved,  July  2G,  1772.  "Jno.Delage." 

Pkdko  Pieunas. 

"The  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-two,  Au- 
gust -Ith.  We,  P-edro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantry,  and  lieuten- 
ant governor  of  the  establishment  and  dependencies  of  the  Illi- 
nois, on  the  application  of  Mr.  Alexander  Langlois,  an  inhabitant 
of  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  calling  himself  the  general  heir  of  the 
estate  left  by  Jean  Deiage,  who  died  at  tiii.->  pist  on  August 
first  of  the  above  year,  by  the  will  wliich  tlie  said  Jolui  Deiage  in- 
dited himself  on  tlie  10th  of  July  of  this  present  year,  asking  that 
it  be  done  on  removing  the  seals,  wliich  by  our  order  were 
attaclied  to  the;  aforesaid  effects  of  Jean  Delago  immediately  af- 
ter his  deatii,  and  proceed  to  tlie  inventory  of  them.  We  re- 
paired to  the  house  of  said  Alexander  Langlois,  wliere  said  testa- 
tor died  and  left  the  above  effects,  where  we  summoned  the  said 
Alexaniler  Langlois,  to  show  and  to  declare  to  us  all  that  he 
knows  to  belong  to  said  deceased,  and  after  lie  showed  tiiem  to 
us,  and  recognized  tliat  our  seals  were  whole  and  unbroken,  we 
removed  them  and  [)roceeded  to  the  inventory,  as  hereafter  de- 
clared, in  presence  of  IMr.  Nicholas  Augustus  Vincent,  sergeant 
of  his  Majesty's  troops,  a'ul  Martin  Duralde,  assistant  witnesses, 
and  Messrs.  Rene  Kierscreau  and  Jno.  B.  Provenohe,  arbitrators 
named  by  said  Alexander  Langlois,  and  Mr.  Francis  Bissonet, 
third  arbitrator  ollicially  named,  to  appraise  and  value  each  ar- 
ticle, on  their  souls  and  consciences,  according  to  the  oath  to 
that  effect  they  took  before  us  and  the  witnesses  in  the  usual 
manner,  all  to  be  valued  at  prices  in  silver. 

First  opened  a  trunk  and  found  as  follows : 

An  ordinary  coat  and    vest  5  cotton  hamlkor.,   red  uiul  liv. 

valued  25  liv.          blue.  12  " 

A  camlet  coat.  10    "        3  pair  cotton  stockings.  12  " 

A  vest  and  Ijreeclics,  brown                   2  pair  silk.  4  " 

Cadiz.  12  "  Cotton  l)!iiid,  ribbon,  etc.  6  " 
.'5  Breeches,  1  clotii,  2  Lim-                     A  worked  towel  and  i)illow- 

l)onri'.  16    "           case.  2  " 


JEAN  DELAGE'S  WILL. 


•115 


2  do.  1  green  cloth,  1  plush    10  liv, 
A   cottou    vest   and    large 

breeches.  20    " 

3  pair  do.  of  cotton.  15    " 

1  vest,    white,    and    large 
breeche.s.  10    " 

3  large  breeches,  2  linen,  1 

cotton.  5    " 

3  pr.  gaiters,    2    calico,    1 

Spanish 
'2  pr.  large  linen  breeches 
A  linen  Blrette,  scull  cap. 
A  winding  sheet. 

3  pr.  large  linen  breeches. 

2  linen  shirts,  flue  trimmed. 
'2  do.  not  so  flue 
2  do.  flue. 

4  do.  do. 

1  wool  blanket,  2i  points. 

2  red  woolen  cups. 

2  sillc  caps. 

3  cotton  caps. 
A  butcher  knife,  fish  line, 

towel,  &c. 

5  or  6  lbs.  lead,  sliot  &  ball. 
A  wooden  box  and  key. 
Another,  partly  broken. 
A  gun,  horn  and  shot  pouch. 
Au  iron  pot  and  lid. 
7  carrots  tobacco,  al)out  10 

lbs.  10    " 

2    pr.  .-^hoes  and   pr.  brass 

ouckles.  7    " 

A  blanket  capote  (i    •' 

A  feather  bed  and  ticking,  a 

faucet,  pillow    and    linen 
cover.  25    " 

A  pr.   large   shoe    buckles, 

pr.  small  do.,  pair  sleeve 

buttons,  all  silver.  25    " 

A  memorandum  of  those  who  Delage  said  were  indebted  to  him. 


c 

3 

10 

8 

t; 

12 

10 

12 

20 

5 

2 

3 

1 

2 

(t 

1.; 

10. 

5 

u 

3 

^i 

15 

a 

10 

(( 

2  spring  knives,  snuff-box, 
brushes. 

A  hat,  gold  band. 

The  trunk  containing  fore- 
going. 

A  cake  of  soap,  French,  4 
lbs.  in  a  chest. 

1)  pieces  of  soap  do. 

2  pr.  old  breeches,  do. 

Small  roll  of  tape. 

Case  of  two  razors,  horn  and 
ivory  combs,  etc. 

An  old  blanket  cai)ote. 

A  bunch  of  white  thread. 

A  mason's  square  and  ham- 
mer. 

2  basins,  4  plates,  a  pewter 
goblet. 

5  empty  bottles. 

Au  old  pair  stockings  and 
hat. 

2  pr.  mocksins. 

A  poor  small  pistol. 

A  pen  knife. 

17  pewter  vest  buttons. 

A  pai)er  of  pins,  &c. 

A  gold  hat  band. 

A  piece  of  linen  galloon. 

A  small  English  casket. 

A  power  of  attorney  from 
Pierre  Jourdan  to  Juo.  De- 
lase  to  collect  from 
rierre  Becquet  eight  11  vres 
in  silver. 


1.10. 

10  <' 

10  " 

4  '• 

4  " 
1  " 
1  " 

3  " 

3  '< 

5  " 


10 

(t 

3 

i( 

1 

<( 

1 

i< 

1.05 

.05 

1 

ii 

.10 

2 

.10 

.10 

3 

u 

Amounting  to 


446  livres 


"And  after  a  careful  investigation  by  ih  to  sue  if  there  was 
nothing  omitted  l)elonging  to  tlie  estate  of  said  .Ino.  Delage,  de- 


11(5  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 

ceased,  we  finished  the  present  inventory,  amounting  to  the  sum 
of  four  hundred  and  forty-six  livres,  and  left  with  j\Ir.  Langlois 
all  the  above  mentioned  articles,  in  presence  of  the  same  witnesses 
above  mentioned,  to  be  produced  whenever  it  will  be  necessary  to 
proceed  to  tlielr  sale.  St.  Louis,  same  day  and  year  above. 
"  Jean  B.  Phovenciie,  Bissonkt's  x  mark,  Vincent,  M.  Duralde, 
"Rene  Kiekseueau,  Pieunas." 

"In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-two,  the 
fourth  day  of  the  month  of  August,  before  us,  don  Pedro  Piernas, 
captain  of  infantry  and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  establishments 
and  dependencies  of  the  Illinois,  personall3^  appeared  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Langlois,  an  inhabitant  of  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  who,  hav- 
ing been  informed  of  the  multiplicity  of  the  creditors  of  the  above 
named  Jno.  Delage,  who  died  at  iiis  house  the  first  of  the  said 
month,  and  considering  the  scantiness  of  the  estate  of  the  said 
deceased,  who  nametl  him  his  heir  general  by  his  will  of  the  IGth 
July,  of  the  same  year,  has  declared  that  he  declines,  and  totally 
renounces  the  estate,  and  claims  only  what  is  due  him  by  tlie 
deceased  Delage  for  his  board,  lodging  and  other  necessaries  he 
furnished  him  during  his  sickness,  placing  himself  on  the  same 
footing  as  the  other  creditors.  In  testimony  of  which,  and  that 
no  one  claiming  from  the  estate  can  have  anj'  cause  of  action 
against  him  in  consequence  of  having  been  made  its  heir,  he  exe- 
cutes this  present  under  his  mark  in  the  presence  of  Nicholas 
Vincent,  sergeant  of  this  garrison,  and  Mr.  IM.  Duralde,  witnesses 
ther(!of,  at  St.  Louis,  the  same  day  and  year  above. 

"  M.  DtruALDE,    Vincent,    Alexk.  x  LANCrLOts,    Pieknas." 

"In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-two,  the 
twenty-sixth  of  October,  at  9V2  a.  m.,  I,  don  Pedro  Piernas,  caji- 
tain  of  infantry  and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  establishments  and 
dependencies  of  the  Illinois,  on  the  application  of  IMr.  Alexander 
Langlois,  an  inhabitant  of  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  calling  himself 
a  creditor,  and  not  the  heir,  of  the  deceased  John  De  Lage,  who 
died  at  Langlois'  house  on  the  first  day  of  the  month  of  August  of 
this  present  year,  in  virtue  of  the  relinquishment  he  made  before 
us  and  the  witnesses  at  the  foot  of  the  general  inventory  of  the 


BILL  OF  EXCHANGE.  117 

effects  of  the  said  deceased  Jno.  Delage,  executed  the  fourth  day 
of  August  of  the  same  jear ;  we  repaired  to  the  ho  use  of  said 
Langlois,  and  after  giving  notice  in  all  the  public  places  of  this 
post,  and  the  public  being  assembled,  it  was  announced  that  the 
purchasers  would  pay  the  price  of  their  purchases  in  deer  skins, 
beaver,  or  silver  dollars,  according  to  the  valuation  of  this  day, 
during  the  course  of  the  month  of  May,  1773,  and  will  be  held  to 
give  good  security  resident  in  this  post. 

"  (The  sale  then  proceeded,  and  was  concluded  on  the  next  daj', 
the  27th,  producing  the  sum  of  83G  livres,  nearly  double  the 
amount  of  the  appraisement,  and  just  sufficient  to  liquidate  the 
liabilities  of  the  estate.) 

"  Oct.  27,  1772. 

"  Martin  Duualde, 

"  Pedro  Pieunas, 

"  We,  the  undersigned  creditors  of  Jean  Delage,  certify  to  hav- 
ing received  altogether  the  proceeds  of  the  auction  sale  of  his 
effects,  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  and  thirtj'-six  livres  in  silver, 
to  wit :  — 

"  I,  Alexander   Langlois,  boarding,  &c .'i.'JO.lO 

Martin  Duralde,  legal  fees,  &c 127.10 

F.  Valentin,  Curate,  church 67 

E.  Kiersereau,  grave 8 

Lachance,  a  debt  13 

Conand,  medical  bill GO 

Aug.  Conde,     do       20 

Louis  Dubreuil,  an  acct 10 


836 
"  Settled  by  Govr.  Piernas,  Sept.  1,  1774. 


BILL   OF    EXCHANGE. 


"  This  day,  September  16,  1772,  appeared  in  the  government 
chamber  before  us,  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantry  and 
lieutenant-governor  of  the  establishments  anc  dependencies  of  the 
Illinois,  belonging  to  his  Catholic  Majestj',  Mr.  Louis  Perrault, 


118  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

merchant,  residing  in  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  who  asked  us  to 
grant  him  the  registration  of  the  following  paper,  to  have  re- 
course to  it  in  case  of  necessity,  said  paper  was  then  registered 
as  follows :  — 

"  For  8300  livres."         "  New  Orleans,  February  15,  1772. 

"  Sir:  You  wiH  please  pay  by  this  first  of  exchange,  if  you 
have  not  paid  my  second  or  third,  to  the  order  of  Mr.  Louis 
Perrault,  your  brother,  the  sum  of  8500  livres,  in  dollars  at 
five  livres,  for  value  received  of  him  in  six  negroes,  including 
a  negress,  which  he  sold  and  delivered  to  me.  Said  amount  you 
will  pay  from  the  first  funds  you  have  received,  or  are  to  re- 
ceive from  the  effects  arising  from  the  estate  of  the  deceased 
Miss  Duplcssis,  for  which  you  have  our  power  of  attorney  to 
sell  the  same,  and  receive  the  proceeds  without  further  advice. 
"  I  am  your  very  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"[Signed.]"     "  Olivier  Devezin  «&  Dl'I'lessis  Olivier." 

"  To  Mr.  James  Perrault,  Merchant,  Quebec,  Canada: — 
Endorsed:     "My  brother  James  Perrault,  pay  to  yourself  the 

within  amount,  and  place  it  to  the  credit  of  my  account, 
N.  O.,  February  27,  1772. 

Louis  Perrault." 

"  This  day,  May  7,  1772,  appeared  before  the  undersigned 
notaries  public  in  Quebec,  Mr.  James  Perrault,  citizen  and 
merchant  of  this  town,  residing  in  the  street  of  the  Sailor's 
falls,  on  behalf  and  with  the  power  of  attorney  of  his  brother, 
Louis  Perrault,  merchant  at  New  Orleans,  bearing  the  order 
from  him  of  February  27,  last,  on  the  bill  of  exchange  of 
8500  livres,  drawn  by  Mr.  Olivier  Devezin  and  Duplessis  Ol- 
ivier, his  wife,  residing  in  New  Orleans,  February  15,  last,  on 
said  Mr.  James  Perrault,  bearer  of  their  power  of  attorney  for 
the  estate  of  Duplessis,  laid  before  the  undersigned  notaries, 
who  protested  against  the  payment  of  said  bill  of  exchange ; 
that  whereas,  in  the  first  place,  he  has  at  present  no  funds  in 
hand  belonging  to  said  estate ;  secondly,  that  the  draft  being 
for  8500  livres,  he  is  satisfied  that  the  estate  will  not  produce 
sufficient  to  meet  it,   adding  besides  such  other  protestations 


BOND  OF  DE  ORO.  ,  119 

as  in  such  cases  are  but  just  and  proper,  of  which  said  Mr.  Per- 
rault,  in  said  name,  requested  from  the  undersigned  notaries  a 
statement  in  writing  for  his  benefit,  which  in  justice  was  accorded 
him. 

"  Done  at  Quebec  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Saillant,  place  of  the 
notaries,  undersigned  in  duplicate,  the  day  and  year  above,  af- 
ter being  read,  and  was  signed  by  the  parties  and  notaries. 

"  Saillant,         Panet,         Jacques  Pebkault." 

"  The  original  bill  of  exchanf^e  was  immediately  returned  to 
said  Louis  Perrault,  and  these  presents  deposited  in  the  govern- 
ment chamber  for  reference  when  needed,  in  presence  of  Messrs. 
Don  Antonio  de  Oro,  officer  of  this  garrison  and  M.  Duralde, 
witnesses,  who  with  us,  the  governor  and  party  have  signed  after 
being  read. 

"  L.  Peukaulte,         Mx.  Duralde        Pedro  Pieknas." 


BOND   OF    DE    OKO. 

"  Before  us  don  Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantry  and 
lieutenant-governor  of  the  establishments  and  dependancies  of 
the   Illinois,  belonging  to  his  Catholic   Majesty,   was 

personally  present,  Mr.  don  Antonio  de  Oro,  an  officer  of  the 
garrison  of  St.  Louis,  who  by  these  presents  acknowledges  that 
he  is  indebted  to  and  promises  to  pay  Mr.  William  Lecompte, 
merchant,  residing  at  present  in  this  port,  the  sum  of  1705 
livres  in  money,  for  good  merchandize  that  said  Wm.  Lecompte 
has  this  day  sold  and  delivered  to  him,  and  witli  which 
he  is  satisfied  —  said  amount  of  1705  livres  in  money,  said 
de  Oro  binds  himself  to  pay  in  all  the  month  of  May 
of  the  year  1774,  in  two  modes  to  wit:  1500  Hvres  in  coin 
dollars,  and  the  205  livres  in  peltries  at  the  current  valuation 
of  this  post,  in  default  of  which,  all  costs,  damages,  and  interest ; 
and  in  the  event  tliat  said  de  Oro  is  compelled  to  leave  this 
Illinois  country  by  the  King's  order,  to  whicii  he  is  liable,  said 
de  Oro  promises  to  pay  to  said  Lecompte,  or  holder  of  this 
obligation,  the  said  amount  of  1705  livres,  one-half  in  coin  dollars, 


120  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

and  the  other  half  in  peltries,  at  the  cnrreiit  valuation  in  this 
post,  in  the  course  of  the  month  of  May,  1773,  the  sale  and 
delivery  of  the  goods  having  been  made  here,  the  parties  consent 
that  the  payment  of  the  same  be  also  made  in  tiiis  place,  notwith- 
standing an}'  absence  or  ciiauge  of  residence  of  said  de  Oro. 

Executed  in  St.  Louis,  in  the  government  chamber,  in  presence  of 
Vincent,  asergeanf  of  tiie  garrison,  and  Martin  Duralde,  witnesses 
called  in,  who  with  us  and  the  parties  have  signed  the  same 
with  the  exception  of  W.  Lecomple,  who  declares  he  knows  not 
how  to  sign,  after  being  read. 
St.  Louis,  Oct. 7,  1772.  Antonio  X.  Joseph  de  Oro. 

M.  DURALUE,  ViNCKNT,  PlEUNAS,  WitUCSSCS. 

I  certify  that  I  have   received  the  amount  of  this  obligation, 
and  release  Mr.  de  Oro,  annulling  the  same  as  of  no  value. 
St.  Louis,  June  8, 1775.  Lecompte'i?, 

X  M.  DUKALDE. 

mark.  witness. 

mabille  letter. 

"Paris,  July  28,   1772. 
"  Mr.  John  B.  Berard,  Bordeaux:  > 

"  Sir — On  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  21st,  I  had  the  honor  to 
see  Mr.  Bezodis,  whose  motiier  owes  an  annuity  of  150  livres  to 
Mr.  Renout.  He  tells  me  had  written  to  yon  on  the  4th  of  this 
month,  and  said  to  j'ou  that  having  paid  in  December,  1765,  all 
the  arrearages  of  that  annuity  up  to  and  including  that  year, 
1765,  nothing  then  remains  due  but  from  January  1,  1766.  The 
payments  he  made  up  to  tiiat  time  are  very  regular,  and  for 
which  he  has  receipts  in  presence  of  notaries.  As  to  the  arrear- 
ages due,  since,  they  are  assigned  by  the  said  Mr.  Renout  to 
Messrs.  Dyvernay,  priests  and  missionaries  in  the  Illinois,  who 
had  advanced  him  a  sum  of  about  1,000  livres,  until  it  would 
repay  them ;  besides  that  assignment,  of  wiiich  these  gentlemen 
are  holders,  they  made  opposition  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Bezodis 
for  the  security  of  their  payments,  so  when  they  will  be  in  readi- 


A  BRIEF  WILL.  121 

11093  to  receive  they  will  take  from  it  more  than  what  may  be  due, 
iiichiding  the  entire  year  1772,  which  can  be  paid  but  with  a  life 
certificate  of  1773. 

"  You  see  that  you  can  expect  notiiing  from  that  annuity  from 
now  until  the  end  of  the  next  year,  for  those  gentlemen  will  still 
receive  it,  and  the  payment  that  your  son  has  made  to  liis  grantor 
for  fourteen  years  of  that  annuity  falls  to  the  ground,  and  the 
transfer  that  said  Renout  may  have  made  to  your  son  is  an 
illusion ;  in  consequence  you  should  forget  tiiat  matter,  and  if 
Mr.  Renout  sliould  yet  live  for  some  years,  and  you  are  able  to 
prove  that  he  receives  his  life  annuity  every  year,  and  that  he  has 
not  transferred  it  to  any  other  person,  you  may  in  two  years 
think  of  the  affair. 

"  I  would  have  been  pleased  to  have  given  you  more  satisfactory 
information,  but  it  appears  to  me  that  your  son  has  had  to  do 
with  men  of  but  little  conscience. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  very  humble  and  obedient 
servant 

"A.  Mabille." 

This  J.  B.  Berard  was  the  father  of  Antoine 
Berard,  a  yoiin*^  merchant  who  died  in  St.  Lonis, 
1776. 

A    BRIEF    WILL. 

"Before  me,  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  captain  of  infantry  and 
lieutenant-governor  of  this  western  part  of  the  Illinois,  in  pres- 
sence  of  Pierre  Lavillc  and  Pierre  Montardy,  witnesses,  I, 
Foubert  La  Grammont,  born  at  Grandville,  diocese  of  Coutance, 
France,  being  about  to  leave  for  Detroit,  and  considering  the 
danger  of  the  journey,  I  name  in  case  of  death  as  my  heir  Mr. 
De  Volsey,  either  in  this  countrj^  France,  or  any  other  place. 
So  that  he  may  enjoy  all  I  possess,  in  this  or  an}'  other  place. 
So  that  no  other  person  can  make  any  opposition  thereto.  This 
l)eing  my  last  will,  which  I  have  signed  in  the  presence  of  the 
r.bove  witnesses,  in  St.  Louis,  September  17,  1872. 

"  Laville,      Montakdy,  Witnesses.  Foubert. 

"Piernas." 


122  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


SALE    OF   AX    ANNUITY. 

"Before  us,  Louis  St.  Ange  ile  Bellerivc,  late  captain  of  infan- 
try, formerly  coinmandinj^  the  province  of  Illinois  and  dependan- 
cies  belonging  to  liis  Catholic  Majesty,  ai)peared  Lady  Felicite 
Robineau  de  Portneuf,  wife  of  Don  Pierre  Joseph  de  Piernas, 
captain  in  the  battalion  of  Louisiana,  lieutenant-governor  of  the 
establishments  of  the  Illinois  and  dependancies  of  his  Catholic 
Majesty.  The  said  Lady  liobineau  de  Portneuf,  with  the  con- 
sent and  authority  of  said  Mr.  de  Piernas,  her  husband,  as  the 
sole  heiress  of  the  deceased,  Mr.  Louis  Niciiolas  Robineau  de 
Portneuf,  and  also  as  heiress  of  half  the  estate  of  the  deceased 
Mad'e  Marguerite  Phillipe  D'Aneau  de  Muid,  widow  of  the  de- 
ceased Rene  Robineau,  ?]sq'r,  lord  of  Portneuf,  according  to  her 
holograph  will  of  May  8,  1770,  deposited  in  the  office  of  Mr. 
Panet,  royal  notary  at  Quebec  —  said  Lady  de  Piernas  as  heiress 
aforesaid,  and  with  authority  of  her  said  husband,  does  l^y  these 
presents,  cede,  transfer  and  convey,  and  promises  to  guarantee 
from  all  trouble  and  hindrances  of  any  nature  wiiatever,  except 
primitive  acts,  to  Mr.  Louis  Dubreuil,  merchant,  at  present  of 
the  Illinois,  in  the  dependancy  of  iiis  Catholic  Majesty,  now  pres- 
ent and  accepting  purchaser  for  himself,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
the  sum  of  81  livres,  12  sols  9  deniers  of  annuities  to  be  taken 
from  261  livres  5  sols  of  annuities,  created  and  registered  at  the 
City  Hall  in  Paris,  July  27,  1722,  which  were  reduced  from  a 
capital  of  418  livres  of  perpetual  revenue,  established  on  the  ex- 
cises and  Impost  on  salt,  by  agreement  executed  l)efore  Courtois, 
a  notary  of  Paris,  January  31,  171.5,  for  the  benefit  of  Peter  Rob- 
ineau, Rene  Robineau,  James  Robineau  and  Louise  Catherine 
Robineau,  wife  of  E'rancis  de  Sourdy.  And  also  48  livres  19 
sols  8  deniers  of  annuity  to  be  taken  from  that  above  mentioned 
261  livres  and  5  sols,  being  one-half  of  the  annuity  of  97  livres  19 
sols  and  4  deniers,  which  belonged  to  said  Lady  D'aneau,  widow 
Portneuf,  on  said  excises  and  imposts  of  France  on  said  contract 
of  creation,  which  said  half  is  now  the  property  of  the  said  Lady 
de  Piernas,  as  co-heiress  in  the  estate  of  the  said  Lady  D'aneau 
de  Portneuf,  with  demoiselle  Catherine  Robineau  de  Portneuf,  the 


SALE  OF  AN  ANNUITY.  123 

two  ladies  beiiij^  the  ilaugliter  ami  <;jran(l-(liuigliter  of  tlie  naid  de- 
ceased Lady  dc  I'ortueuf,  according  to  the  intent  of  her  before 
mentioned  will,  said  two  sums,  forming  togetiier  tlie  sum  of  l.'H 
livres  12  sols  and  0  dealers,  for  said  .Mr.  Diihreuil,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  to  enjoy  and  dispose  of  the  said  annuity  of  81  livres,  19 
sols  and  9  deniers,  and  of  tliat  of  18  livres  19  sols  and  8  deniers, 
now  due  to  said  Lady  de  Piernas,  by  the  decease  of  said  Lady 
D'Aneau,  widow  Portneuf,  lier  grandmotlier,  in  full  ownership 
and  belonging  to  him,  entitled  to  receive  the  arrearages  from 
the  day  they  became  due  —  to  that  end  the  said  L\dy  de 
Piernas  malting  to  said  Mr.  Dubreuil  all  transfers  necessary 
concerning  said  two  portions  of  the  annuity  belonging  to  her  as 
sole  heiress  of  one-half  in  tlie  estate  of  said  deceased  Lady  D'an- 
eaii,  widow  of  Mr.  Rene  Robineau  de  Portneuf,  her  grandfather, 
to  whom  by  decree  of  the  court  of  the  City  Hall,  in  Paris,  da'ed 
July  10,  17G7,  it  was  ordered  that  said  annuities  belonged  as  fel- 
lows, to 

Livres.  Soli.    Den. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Robineau  de  Portneuf .  .   81    12.      9 
Dec'dMad'e  D'Aneau  widow  Portneuf  97    19.      4 

Miss  Catherine  de  Portneuf 81    12.      9 

261  livres   5  sols. 


} 


"This  present  ti'ansfcr  is  made  for  the  price  and  sum  of  5,225 
livres.  for  both  the  principal  of  said  annuities,  and  the  arrearages 
now  due  and  to  become  due  to  the  said  Madame  de  Piernas  in 
the  estate  of  her  deceased  father,  and  half  that  in  the  estate  of 
said  Madame  de  Muit  de  Portneuf,  her  grandmother.  Said 
amount  of  5,225  livres  said  Ladyde  Piernas  acknowledges  having 
received  from  said  Dubreuil,  from  which  she  releases  him  in  full. 

"Done  in  the  government  chamber  at  St.  Louis  of  the  Ilinois,  in 
the  presence  of  Messrs.  A.  Berard,  Martin  Duralde  and  Joseph 
Labusciere,  of  said  place,  witnesses,  who  have,  with  the  parties 
and  myself,  former  commandant,  signed  the  same,  after  being 
read  in  accordance  with  the  law. 

St.  Louis,  Nov.  2,  1774. 

"  It  is  also  expressly  agreed  that  the  sale  made  by  the  lady  De 
Piernas  to  said  Dubreuil,  July  10,  1771,  is  null  and  void  and  of 


124  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

no  effect,  tliis  last  sale  superseding  it  and  being  tlie  only  one  in 
full  force  and  value, 

PeDUO  PiEKNAS,  FkLICIT^  lioHINEAT  PoUTNEUF  P1EUNA8. 

Louis  Duukeiii.,  A.  Heuaku, 

Mn.  Dubaluk,  Lahuscieke, 

St.  AN(iE. 


Ill  the  year  1774,  there  bein<j^  no  village  priHon,* 
Gov.  Piernas  had  Laclede  to  have  constructed  a 
small  one  of  ten  by  twenty  feet,  as  an  appendage 
against  a  gable  end  of  Laclede's  house,  a  i)art  of 
which  he  then  occupied  as  the  government  office, 
where  it  might,  at  all  times,  be  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  the  orderly  sergeant  and  soldier  or 
two  who  had  charge  of  the  government  chamber, 
and  were  constantly  in  attendance  on  the  governor. 

A  detailed  account  of  its  cost  is  among  the  i)apers 
in  the  archives,  of  which  the  following  is  a  consolida- 
tion, in  the  handwriting  of  Auguste  Chouteau,  the 
governor   furnishing   the  materials   and  the  people 

assisting  in  the  Avork  :  — 

Livres,     sols.     den. 
Stone-work,  by  Antoiae  Roussel       •         .     2G7.       11.         8 
Carpenters'  and  joiners'  work,  and  roof  by 

Francis  Delin         .....     405 
Iron  and  work  on  the  fastenings,  grating, 

nails,  &c.,  Guion  &  Labbe         .         .     .     132 
18  barrels  lime  for  mortar,  by  Deschenes        36 


840.11.8— S165 


*  NoTK.  —  There  must  have  been  something  of  a  prison  before  this, 
as  we  find  Trllle  in  one  in  17(58. 


ST.  ANOE'S  WILL.  125 

Dec.  2*4.  —  The  first  ehurch  bell,  named  Pieire 
Joseph  Felieite,  lifter  the  governor  and  his  hidy, 
whose  gift  it  was,  was  blessed  by  the  first  enrate, 
Father  Valentin,  in  the  presence  of  the  assenil)l('<l 
inhabitants  of  the  village.  It  was  hnng  on  a  teni- 
poraiy  scaffold  ontside  the  church.  After  the  cei'e- 
mony  they  resolved  to  erect  a  permanent  church. 


ST.  ange's  will. 

"The  will  of  Louis  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive,  first  military  com- 
miindiint  and  actinj^  governor  of  the  post  of  St.  Louia,  upper 
LouiHinna,   Dec.  2(),  1774: 

"  Before  me,  Pedro  Pie^iias,  lieutenant-governor  of  the  estuli- 
lislnnent  of  Illinois  and  its  appurtenances,  belonging  to  his 
Catholic  Majesty,  at  the  request  of  Louis  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive, 
captain  of  infantry,  in  the  service  of  his  C.  M.,  I  repaired  to 
the  house  of  Mad'c  Chouteau,  at  St.  Louis,  in  wliich  the  said  St. 
Ange  de  Bellerive  lodges,  attended  by  Joseph  Labusciere  and 
Benito  Basquez,  witnesses  —  being  there  we  were  introduced  Into 
the  room  where  the  said  St.  Ange  is  sick  in  bed,  but  nevertlieless 
scjund  of  mind,  memory  and  understanding ;  considering  that 
death  is  certain,  and  the  time  of  its  coming  very  uncertain,  beini;- 
dangerously  ill,  and  desiring  not  to  be  overtaken  by  death,  with- 
out having  disposed  of  the  few  goods  which  God  has  given  him,  he 
has  made  and  dictated  the  present  testament  to  me,  the  lieutenant- 
governor,  and  in  presence  of  the  after-named  and  undersigned 
witnesses,  in  the  following  form  and  manner,  viz. :  — 

"  First.  As  a  good  Christian,  Calholic,  Apostolic  and  Roman, 
he  has  commended  his  soul  to  God,  to  the  blessed  Virgin,  and  the 
saints  of  the  celestial  court,  beseeching  them  to  intercede  for  hiui 
with  the  divine  Majesty,  that  it  may  please  the  Lord  to  receive 
his  soul  into  the  Kingdom  of  the  Blessed.  The  said  testator 
wishes  and  ordains,  tiiat  if  he  should  die  of  his  present  sickness, 
his  body  be  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  this  parish  among  the  other 
faithful. 


12G  ANNALS  OF  .ST.  LOUIS. 

"  Hf  wiahcs  and  ordains  principallvi  that  all  his  dubts  be  paid 
by  his  tfstanieiitury  t-xccutor,  and  out  of  his  goods. 

"  Tlie  Hiiid  testator  (icclares  lie  owos  Madame  Cliouteau  his  l)oard 
from  tiie  fiiHt  of  August  of  tlie  last  yi-ar,  one  thousand,  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-three,  to  this  present  day,  according  to  the 
price  agreed  upon,  and  he  conimitH  to  his  testamentary  executor, 
tile  settlement  of  this  amount;  declaring  to  have  paid  tlie  sum  of 
tliree  hundred  and  ninety  livres  in  money,  which  must  be  de- 
ducted therefrom. 

"  lie  declares  that  he  owes  to  one  Desohenne  for  twenty-flve 
loads  of  wood. 

"  lie  declares  that  he  owes  to  Laville,  a  tailor,  for  making  a 
riding  coat,  a  waist-coat,  and  two  pairs  of  breeches,  in  payment  of 
which  said  Laville  has  received  forty  livres  in  peltries,  an  old 
velvet  waist-coat,  and  one  pair  of  breeches,  which  the  testator 
sold  him. 

"  He  declares  that  one  named  Francois  de  Lui  owes  him  seventy 
livres,  for  money  loaned  him. 

"  He  wishes  and  ordains  tliat  there  be  celelirated  the  day  of  his 
funeral,  a  solemn  service,  and  as  soon  as  possible  twenty-live  low- 
masses  for  the  repose  of  his  soul,  and  in  case  the  goods  should 
be  more  tlian  suflicieut  to  pay  all  his  del)ts,  the  said  testator  gives 
and  l)e(iu('atlis,  for  the  construction  of  the  church  of  this  parish, 
the  sum  of  live  huiKhed  livres  in  moiu-}',  which  sliall  be  paid  out 
of  his  goods,  by  his  testamentary  t'xccutor. 

"  He  gives  and  bequeaths  to  one  named  Antoiue  IJreda  (Anthony 
Harada)  the  sum  of  three  hundred  livres,  for  tlie  good  services 
he  has  received  from  him. 

"  He  gives  and  bequeaths  to  Madame  De  Volsay,  his  niece,  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  dollars. 

•'lie  declares  that  he  lias  three  slaves,  named  Angelique,  an  In- 
dian woman,  C'liarlottc,  aged  about  nine  years,  and  Antoine,  ageil 
about  sixteen  months,  children  of  the  said  Angelique.  He  de- 
sires the  said  Angelique  to  belong  to  his  niece,  Madame  Belestre, 
as  a  slave  for  life,  and  as  regards  the  two  children,  they  shall 
serve  Mad'e  Belestre  and  her  heirs  until  they  attain  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  after  this  time  shall  have  expired,  he  wishes  and 
ordains  that  the  said  two  children  be  free  —  beseeching  the  com- 


8T.  ANGE'S  WILL.  127 

inaiiilor  of  this  country  to  intLTfere  by  authoiity  for  the  execu- 
tion thereof. 

'*  And  us  regunN  iill  tlie  other  goods  lie  possosscs  now,  and  may 
[tOftsess  in  future,  he  gives  and  hequeatiis  tlieiii,  after  iiis  debts 
are  paid,  to  Madame  Joacliini  Devilliers,  wife  of  Helestre,  and  to 
Francois  Dcviliiers,  wiio  is  blind;  the  above-named  nepucw  and 
niece,  residing  now  ;it  New  Orleans,  siiall  partaiie  in  e([ual  por- 
tion of  tile  remainder  of  liis  inlieritance,  as  liis  general  and  uni- 
versal heirs,  and  in  case  the  said  Francois  Devilliers  sliould  be 
dead,  tlie  part  accruing  to  iiini,  shall  revert  to  Louis  Devilliers, 
god-son  of  said  testator,  such  being  his  will  and  intention. 

"  And  for  his  testamentary  executor  the  said  testator  has  named 
and  appointed  by  these  presents,  I'ierre  Laclede  Liguest.  his 
friend,  )eseeching  liim  to  give  him  this  last  proof  of  his  friendship, 
delivering  into  his  hands  all  the  goods  belonging  to  him,  to  be 
employed  according  to  the  aforesaid  will,  declaring  he  has  not 
contracted  any  marriage  to  this  day.  All  the  foregoing  being 
the  will  and  intention  of  the  said  St.  Ange,  he  revokes  and  annuls 
all  other  testaments  and  codicils  which  he  may  have  made  l)efore 
this  i)resent  one,  which  will  be  executed  according  to  its  form  and 
tenor. 

"  And  the  said  will  having  been  read  and  reread  to  the  said 
testator,  he  says  he  understands  it  well  and  that  it  is  his  last  wiil. 

"  Done  and  executed  in  the  house  of  the  said  Madame  Chouteau, 

ill  tiie  room  where  the  said  St.  Ange  is  in  his  bed,  the  year  one 

thousand  seven  hundretl  and  seventy-four,  the  twenty-sixth  day 

of  December,   at   '1    o'clock    p.  m.,  in  tlie  presence  of  the  said 

Benito  Bascpiez  and  Joseiih  l^almsciere,  attorney,  witnesses,  and 

of  Autoine  Berord,  merchant,  Joseph  Labrosse  and  Jno.  B.  Mai- 

tigny,  captain  in  the  militia,  residing  in  the  same  ])l;ice,  who  have 

signed  tliese  presents,  with  the  said  testator  and  me,  tin-  i^ieut.- 

CJoveriior,  the  day  and  year  above  said. 

St.   Aniik, 

Bkmto  Basque/.,  A.  Bkk.\1!i>, 

LABUsnr.UK,  Jos.  Laiiuossk, 

J.  B.  Maktiont. 

I'l.DUO  PlKUNAS. 


128  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Ciipt.  St.  Ange  died  the  same  night,  and  was  in- 
terred on  the  following  day,  December  27,  1774:,  by 
Father  Valentin,  the  first  parish  curate ;  *  his  age 
is  not  stated. 

A.ft3r  Gov.  Eiernas  had  assumed  the  government, 
Capt.  St.  Ange  was  admitted  into  the  Spanish  regi- 
ment of  Louisiana,  with  the  same  rank  as  captain, 
on  half  pay. 

April  19,  1775. —  Easter  festival  the  inhabitants  as- 
sembled again,  and  having  perfected  their  plans  and 
specifications  for  a  church  of  30  feet  front  by  60 
feet  in  depth,  and  li  feet  high,  of  hewn  posts  set  in 
the  ground,  and  made  their  award  for  the  building 
of  the  same ;  the  agreement  was  signed  by  the 
seventy-eight  householders  of  the  village,  some  thirty 
with  their  autograph  signatures,  and  the  others  with 
his  accustomed  mark  of  a  cross  x. 

The  foregoing  comprise  about  all  the  official  acts 
of  Gov.  Piernas  of  any  public  interest,  his  others 
relating  entirely  to  individual  matters. 

Gov.  Piernas  and  lady,  during  their  residence  here, 
had  the  misfortune  of  losing  their  two  young  children, 
a  son,  Charles  Rafael  Victor,  March  20,  1774,  and  a 
young  daughter  on  January  9,  1775. 


*  As  per  record  in  the  parish  church  register:  — 

"In  the  year  1774,  tlic  L'7th  of  December,  I,  tlie  uiulertiigned,  have 
interred  la  the  cemetery  of  this  parisli  tlie  Ijody  of  Mr.  Louis  St.  Ange, 
captain  attached  to  the  LouisiaiM  regiment,  administered  with  the  sacra- 
ments of  tlie  clmrch.  Bho  Valentin,  Cwrate." 


PIERNAS'  TESTIMONIAL.  129 

The  death  of  Capt.  St.  Aiige  de  Bellorive  also 
occurred  on  Dec.  26,  1774. 

The  administration  of  Gov.  Piernas  continued  just 
five  years,  terminating  on  May  20,  1775,  on  which 
day  he  relinquished  the  o-overnment  to  his  successor, 
Gov.  Francis  Cruzat. 

The  exercise  of  authority  by  Gov.  Piernas  of  this 
upper  portion  C'f  the  country  was  so  much  more  mild 
and  conciliatory  than  the;  French  inhabitants  here 
had  any  reason  to  expect,  considering  their  long 
delay  in  placing  the  Spanish  in  possession,  and  the 
open  resistance  to  the  assumption  of  Spanish  au- 
thority below  at  New  Orleans,  that  at  the  close  of 
his  administration  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the 
village  held  a  meeting  and  united  unanimously  in 
expressing  their  satisfaction  at  the  same  in  the  fol- 
lowing testimonial  to  that  effect,  as  follows  : — 

"  To  Pedro  Piernas^  at  the  close  of  his  Administration ,  May  19, 

1775: 

"  We,  the  unclersigued  inhabitants,  merchants,  tradesmen, 
hunters  and  traders  of  the  post  of  St.  Louis,  assembled  in  the 
government  chamber,  by  direction  of  Governor  Don  Francisco 
Cruzat,  of  tiie  Illinois,  certify  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
we  have  no  subject  of  complaint  to  allege  against  the  manner  in 
which  we  were  governed  by  his  excellency,  the  late  Governor  Don 
Pedro  Piernas,  that  he  rendered  us  all  the  justice  to  which  we 
were  entitled.  That  neither  himself,  nor  the  company  of  soldiers 
he  commanded  in  this  post,  ever  committed  any  excesses  or  extor- 
tions, or  were  guilty  of  an}-  wrong  on  anj'  of  the  inhabitants, 
that  said  company  occasioned  no  trouble,  nor   gave  any  scandal 

9 


130  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

nor  bad  example ;  that  no  oue  received  any  violence  or  bad  treat- 
ment without  cause ;  that  we  are  not  aware  that  he  had  any  pecu- 
niary agreement  or  understanding  with  any  one  whomsoever,  on 
this  or  the  otlier  side,  in  regard  to  business.  It  was  never  per- 
ceived by  any  one  tliat  he  had  injured  the  public  in  restricting 
trade ;  that  he  never  exacted  any  thing  either  from  traders  or 
merchants  for  licenses  or  pass-ports  necessary  for  their  affairs, 
neither  in  setting  out  nor  on  their  return.  That  he  never  excluded 
any  one  from  the  benefit  of  this  trade,  which  he  distributed  alter- 
nately each  year  to  the  best  of  his  judgment  for  the  public  inter- 
est, and  the  number  of  traders.  That  no  one  I'eceived  any  ill 
treatment  from  the  Indian  tribes  for  having  been  badly  received 
by  him  at  this  post.  That  they  never  heard  from  said  Indians 
any  complaints  of  him,  his  behaviour,  nor  of  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment, and  that  they  are  peaceable  and  contented,  as  well  as  we 
ourselves. 

•'  In  short,  we  can  only  speak  well  of  him,  and  with  respect  and 
gratitude." 

"  St.  Louis,  June  6,  1775. 

Signed  by  50  names,  comprising  the  largest  por- 
tion of  the  male  adnlts  of  the  post,  in  presence  of 
Francisco  Crnzat.  Copy  presented  Fiernas  July  8, 
1775. 


LIEUT. -COL.  FRANCIS   CRUZAT 

succeeded  Capt.  Pieriias  as  lieutenant-g'overnor  of 
this  upper  part  of  Louisiana  on  May  20,  1775,  ap- 
pointed by  Gov. -Gen.  Unzaga. 

He  was  of  Spanish  birth,  as  was  also  his  lady,  a 
man  of  middle  age,  having  attained  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Louisiana. 

We  find  but  few  official  acts  of  his  during  his  first 
brief  administration  of  three  years  which  would  seem 
to  merit  any  particular  notice ;  the  principal  occur- 
rences were :  — 

1775,  June.  —  The  unaccountable  disa})pearance 
of  Father  F.  Valentin,  the  first  curate  of  the  parish, 
no  where  found  of  record  either  in  the  archives  oi' 
parish  register. 

Sept.  15,  the  death  of  old  Pierre  Lapointc,  over 
one  hundred  years  of  age. 

Sept.  22,  the  death  of  Francis  Xavier  Cruzat,  a 
young  son  of  the   governor. 

Oct.  18,  the  death  of  Peter  Lui)ii'n,  alias  Baron, 
the  contractor  then  engaged  in  building  the  church. 

PETITION  OF  ETIENNE  BARUE. 

"  The  undersigned  lias  the  honor  to  represent  to  j'ou,  tliat 
having  received  on  board  his  boat  at  New  Orleans,  six  barrels  of 
rum  and  a  quantity  of  dry  goods  from  Mr.  Boisdorc,  according  to 

(131) 


132  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

receipt,  tit  the  rate  of  twenty-flve  dollars  freight  on  each  barrel,  all 
to  be  delivered  to  Benito  Basquez,  in  the  Illinois  on  paying  the 
freight  according  to  agreement.  The  undersigned  having  delivered 
to  Basquez,  the  Gth  instant,  the  above  articles  by  one  Roy,  of  this 
place,  said  Basquez  proposed  to  pay  him  his  freight  in  peltries, 
which  was  not  his  agreement.  He  refused,  demanding  his  freight 
in  dollars  as  per  agreement,  he  being  obliged  to  pay  his  outfit 
and  expenses  in  dollars.  After  repeated  demands,  he  is  com- 
pelled to  have  recourse  to  your  justice  to  compel  said  Basquez 
to  pay  him  as  per  agreement ;  and  in  default  of  the  same  to  sell 
such  portion  of  the  goods  as  may  be  necessary  to  pay  him  the 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
St.  Louis,  May  10,  1775. 

"  Etiknne  Bahkh:. 

"  To  Lieut. -Gov. 

"  Franciiico  Criizat." 

On  the  same  day  (Jruzat  notified  Basquez  to  ap- 
pear the  next  day,  Thursday  the  11th,  and  make 
answer  to  the  above. 


The  distinction  l)etween  a  fur  trader  and  a  mer- 
chant was  tliis  :  The  trader  was  one  who  went  among 
the  Indians,  usually  for  the  winter,  trading  off  his 
goods,  and  receiving  in  payment  their  furs  and  pelt- 
ries ;  the  merchant  was  one  who  resided  permanently 
in  a  place,  furnishing  the  outfits  for  the  traders  on 
credit,  and  receiving  in  payment  the  proceeds  of  his 
trade,  usually  the  following  spring. 

The  exclusive  trade  with  the  Indians  of  the  Mis- 
souri, claimed  by  the  house  of  Maxent,  Laclede  & 


FURS  AND  PELTRIES.  133 

Co.,  under  their  license  from  Gov.  Kerlerec  in  1702, 
came  to  an  end  with  the  establishment  of  the  Spanish 
authority  in  1770,  Avhen  the  trade  was  opened  to  all 
who  chose  to  embark  in  it.  In  the  year  1770  there 
were  some  six  or  eight  merchants  in  St.  Louis  then 
engaged  in  it.  As  much  of  the  peltries  brought  to 
the  place  by  th(!  traders  were  more  or  less  damaged 
through  the  neglect  of  their  owners  in  properly  caring 
for  them,  and  as  they  were  becoming  almost  the  only 
circulating  medium  of  the  country,  there  being  but 
very  little  coin  in  the  country,  and  it  in  the  hands  of 
a  fortunate  few,  the  merchants  united  in  a  petition  to 
Gov.  Cruzat,  for  the  purpose  of  creating  some  regu- 
lations on  the  sul^ject  Avhich  would  conduce  to  the 
mutual  interest  of  both  parties,  merchant  and  trader, 
in  which  they  present  their  views  as  to  the  rules  they 
deemed  it  expedient  to  adopt  for  the  benefit  of  all 
concerned. 

"  To  the  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Illinois  : 

"Siu;  We,  the  uiulersignecl,  merchants  in  this  village,  with 
due  respect,  have  tlie  honor  to  present  to  your  consideration, 
tliat  for  some  time  back,  tiie  custom  has  grown  up  between  the 
merchants,  traders  and  hunters  of  settling  the  accounts  Ijetween 
them  with /«)•'«  and  jieltries,  at  certain  prices,  which  vary  accord- 
ing to  the  kind,  qualit}^  and  condition,  etc. ,  etc. 

"  St.  Louis,  March  4,  177(5. 

"Signed,  Martin  Dukaldk,  Bknito  Basquez,  J.  M.  PAPiNi 
"  Saupt,       Ante.  Berakd,      J.  F.  Peuuaii.t,         Jos.  Motakd. 

"  After    examination    and  considering   the   foregoing   raemo- 


13J:  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

rial  of  the  merchants  of  St.  Louis,  and  the  forcible  reasons  with 
whicli  it  is  supported,  it  is 

"  Decreed,  that  from  this  time  in  future,  no  skin  shall  be  weighed 
before  it  is  thoroughly  examined  and  passed  inspection  as  sound  ; 
but  in  order  that  no  merchant  can  hold  back  from  this  reform, 
nor  delay  on  frivolous  pretexts  the  time  of  examination,  and 
after  the  refuse  is  separated,  the  skins  that  are  to  be  warranted 
shall  be  exposed  to  dry  in  the  sun  and  air  to  be  disposed  of. 
And  it  is  further  ordered  that  it  is  the  merchant's  business  to  ex- 
amine and  discriminate  his  own  skins,  soon  after  the  trader  has 
delivered  them  to  liim,  and  shall  have  them  weighed  immediately, 
so  that  by  this  method  no  injury  nor  detriment  will  be  done  the 
trader. 

"  Done  in  the  government  hall,  March  5,  1776. 

"  Franco.  Cuuzat." 

AXTOINE    BEllAKD. 

One  of  the  names  attached  to  the  foregoing  peti- 
tion was  that  of  Antoine  Berard,  who  had  left  his 
native  France  a  young  man  with  bright  prospects 
before  him  to  come  to  Louisiana,  the  El  Dorado  of 
North  America,  in  pursuit  of  fortune,  and  one  of  the 
many  who  soon  fell  victims  in  its  pursuit  to  the  dele- 
terious effects  of  the  climate,  pai'ticularly  upon  Euro- 
peans at  that  early  day  of  its  settlement. 

Antoine  Berard,  son  of  Jno.  Bap.  Berard,  a  mer- 
chant of  Bordeaux,  and  Antoinette  Valle,  was  born  in 
the  i)ari8h  of  St.  Pierre  in  that  city  in  the  year  1740. 
lie  came  like  numberless  others  in  search  of  wealth 
to  New  Orleans,  and  about  the  year  1768,  following 
the  footsteps  of  Laclede,  a  friend  and  fellow-country- 
man, he  arrived  in  St.  Louis  and  embarked  in  busi- 


DO.MINICK  BARGAS.  135 

ness.  Being*  well  educated  and  of  fine  business 
capacity  he  soon  acquii'ed  prominence,  and  during 
the  few  years  of  his  life  he  was  quite  successful  and 
acquired  property,  when  his  days  were  suddenly  cut 
short. 

In  the  year  1774  he  became  the  purchaser  of  the 
quarter  block  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and 
Locust,  with  a  small  house  of  posts  divided  into  four 
small  rooms,  his  store,  bed  room,  kitchen  and  store 
room,  nearly  double  the  usual  number  of  that  day, 
where  he  had  resided  for  a  couple  of  years.  He  died 
on  October  13,  1776,  at  the  age  of  36  years,  at  the 
house  of  Alexis  P.  Marie,  at  the  southwest  opposite 
coi'ner,  to  which  he  had  been  removed  for  better 
nursing,  and  was  interred  in  the  cemetery  grounds  the 
following  day. 

His  will,  a  brief  one,  was  made  on  the  12th  Octo- 
ber, in  the  presence  of  the  Governoi*  Cruzat,  his 
friends,  Laclede,  Sarpy  and  others.  "  He  left  his  sis- 
ter, Genevieve,  then  living  with  her  parents  at  Bor- 
deaux, his  sole  heiress,  and  names  his  friends  above 
to  execute  his  last  will  and  testament.  His  house 
was  ])urchased  by  another  young  merchant  not  long 
in  the  place,  Dominick  Bargas,  who  had  barely  oc- 
cupied it  a  coui)le  of  j^'ars,  when  he,  too,  followed 
Berard  to  his  last  home,  dying  suddenly  with  appo- 
plexy,  on  the  night  of  July  18,  1779,  at  the  age  of 


136  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

38  years,  found  dead  in  hi.s  bud  the  followhi'j;'  nioni- 
ing,  A  somewhat  singular  coincidence  regarding 
these  two  gentlemen,  both  merchants  from  Europe, 
unmarried  about  the  same  age,  and  owners  and  resi- 
dents of  the  same  house  at  death. 


riERRE   MASSE   AND    PR*.    VALLE. 

"  1875,  February  23,  Peter  Masse,  alias  Picard,  petitions  Don 
Pedro  Piernas,  and  complains  as  follows:  In  Ma3',  1 773,  he  entered 
into  an  engagement  in  writing  with  Peter  Gadobert,  of  Ste.  Gen- 
evieve, to  work  for  six  montlis  at  tlie  lead  mines  of  said  Gadobert 
at  Mine  Lamothe,  for  one  hundred  francs  per  montii,  to  be  paid 
him  in  lead  at  five  cents  per  pound,  the  current  price  at  that  time. 

"  When  the  time  was  out  he  applied  to  Mrs.  Gadobert,  who  had 
charge  of  her  husband's  business  in  liis  absence,  for  his  wages. 
She  went  with  him  to  Mr.  Valle's,  ,, ho  had  her  lead  in  his  pos- 
session. Lead  had  advanced  in  price,  and  Mr.  Valle  proposed  to 
pay  him  in  money,  as  he  had  the  other  hands  at  the  rate  of 
eight  cents  the  iiound  ;  declining  this,  an  altercation  ensued,  and 
he  was  thrown  violently  on  a  trunk  by  Mr.  Valle,  who  threatened 
to  have  him  imprisoned,  and  directed  his  clerk,  Mr.  LeClerc, 
to  write  on  the  back  of  his  engagement  paper  an  ac- 
ceptance of  his  pay  as  proposed  by  Mr.  Vallo,  and  a  relin- 
quisliment  of  his  claim  on  tlio  lead,  and  this  over  his  mark  of  the 
cross,  which  he  had  signed  when  he  entered  into  the  agreement 
to  work  witli  Mr.  Dagobert,  all  this  in  the  presence  of  Madame 
Dagobert,  and  Mr.  Carpentier,  the  attorney  of  Mr.  Dagobert  at 
Ste.  Genevieve.  Your  petitioner  then  applied  to  Mr.  Carpentier, 
who  told  him  he  had  no  control  over  the  lead,  it  being  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Valle  as  security.  Your  petitioner  therefore  applies  to 
you  for  redress,  and  for  proof  of  his  statement  refers  to  Mr.  Car- 
pentier, who  was  present  and  witnessed  it. 

PiEURE  X  Masse  dit  Picart. 

March  10,  1775. — Gov.  Piernas  refers  the  petition  and  papers 
to  Mr.  Cai'pentier,    to  investigate  and  report  the  result.     The 


MASSE  AND  VALLE.  137 

papers  were,  first,  a  copy  of  agreement.  May  2,  1773;  second, 
JIasse's  receipt  to  Mr.  Gadobert,  relinquisliing  liis  claim  to  the 
mineral,  Novcml)er  9,  1773  —  registered  at  Ste.  Genevieve  by  Mr. 
Vallo,  Feliruary  8,  177");  tliird,  Madame  Gadobort's  statement 
tliat  she  liad  settled  witli  Masse  in  full  —  taken  by  Louis  Villars, 
lieutenant-commandant  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  November  29,  177 1, 
and  a  copy  sent  to  Gov.  Cruzat,   March   24,    1775. 

March  30,  1775. — Testimony  of  Mr.  Carpentier  taken  by  L.  Vil- 
lars,  by  order  of  Piornas  —  Juan  Purzada  and  Louis  Chamard, 
witnesses. 

31st. — Statement  of  Krancis  Valle,  and  request  to  Gov.  Piernas, 
with  Madame  Gadobcrt's  account  of  lead. 

1775,  June  4,  —  Governor  Cruzat's  decision  exonerates  Vallu, 
and  condemns  Masse  to  a  [)ublic  retraction  and  an  apology  to  Mr. 
Valle,  for  the  injurious  imputations  cast  on  him  in  his  petition 
above,  in  the  presence  of  three  notable  citizens,  to  l)e  selected  by 
Don  Louis  Villars,  and  eight  days'  imprisonment. 

Nov.  7.  —  Masse  asks  permission  to  laj'  his  case  before  the  gov- 
ernor-general below  at  New  Orleans. 

Nov.  20.  —  Permission  granted  him  by  Gov.  Cruzat. 

The  decision  was  confirmed,  and  the  retraction  and  apology  to 
be  made  in  the  Government  hall  in  St.  Louis. 

1776,  June.  —  Governor  Cruzat's  notice  that  he  appoints  Pierre 
Laclede,  Henry  Carpentier,  and  Martin  Duralde  to  receive  the 
apology,  and  Diego  Blanco,  sergeant,  and  Juan  Olivier,  soldier, 
witnesses,  and  will  give  due  notice  of  the  day. 

Oct.  28.  — The  Lieut.-governor  fixed  a  day  early  in  November. 

Nov.  2.  — Mr.  Valle,  being  sick  could  not  attend  in  person,  and 
named  Joseph  Conand,  merchant  of  St.  Louis,  to  represent  him. 

On  the  day  appointed  Masse  declined  making  the  apology,  say- 
ing "  he  had  not  given  any  offense  to  3Ir.  Vallo."  Subsequently, 
however,  it  appears  he  changed  his  mind  on  reflection ;  and  on 

Nov.  12. — Informed  the  governor  in  writing  that  "he  would 
comply  with  the  decision  in  the  case." 

This  must  have  ended  the  matter,  as  we  find  no 
further  mention  of  it  in  the  archives,  his  written  ac- 


138  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

quiescence  in  the  decision  l)eing  accepted  as  apology 
HiilUeicnt,  where  it  would  a})pear  that  he  considered 
hiiuself  the  injured  party,  or  it  may  have  ended  in 
smoke. 

Masse  died  in  St.  Louis  four  years  later,  on  July 
24,  1780,  at  the  house  of  Doct.  Reynal,  on  the  north 
side  of  Market  Street,  east  of  Third,  between  it  and 
the  alley,  opposite  the  cemetery  grounds,  where  he 
was  interred. 


The  temporary  chapel,  built  at  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  church  block  in  1770,  being  now  too  small 
to  accommodate  the  increased  population,  a  meeting 
of  the  inhabitants  took  place  December  25,  1771:,  at 
the  priest's  residence,  at  which  they  resolved  to  build 
a  new  church  of  30  by  60  feet. 

April  19,  1775. — They  awarded  the  contract  to 
Pierre  Lupien,  a  carpenter,  to  be  finished  in  the  fall. 
October  18,  Lupien,  the  contractor  died,  church  un- 
finished. 

January  28,  177G. — Another  meeting  was  held. 
Jean  Cambas  agreed  to  finish  it,  wliieh  he  did  in  the 
course  of  the  summer,  when  it  was  consecrated. 


FATHER  BERNAKD  THE  KEW  CURATE. 

May  19. — Arrival  of  Father  Bernard  de  Limpach, 
the  new  parish  curate,  bearing  his  credentials,  and 


i 


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ON 


FATHER  BERNARD  SECOND  CURATE.       lUO 

the  tniiislVr  of  the  [)aiiHh  IVoiii  the  Dioce.sc  of  Quebec 
to  that  of  Cuba. 

"  Fiitlier  Dagobort  dc  Lontfwy,  principal  Cipuchiii  Priest,  ati<' 
V^lcar  General  of  the  Mission  of  Louisiana,  in  tiie  diocese  of 
Havana  <le  Cuba,  to  our  very  dear  Brother  tlio  Reverend  Fattier 
Bernard,  de  dix  I'ar,  a  professed  Friar  of  tiiat  order,  in  the 
province  of  Liege,  and  apostolic  nusslonary  of  this  mission. 

OUKKTINO: 

"  Well  and  sufliciently  knowing  your  good  habits  and  capacity, 
desirous  also  to  conform  in  all  things  to  the  commands  of  his  very 
Christian  Majesty,  who,  by  his  letters-patent,  registered  at  the 
registry  of  th(^  Superior  Council  of  this  colony,  to  grant  in  proper 
and  due  form,  appointments,  as  curates,  to  our  missionaries  wlio 
merit  it,  to  those  parishes  and  posts  of  which  the  mission  had 
formerly  i)een  deemed  as  entitled  to,  and  to  place  them  in  legal 
possession  —  the  patronage,  emoluments,  and  all  otiier  arrange- 
ments being  reserved  to  our  [)osition  as  the  liead  —  until  his 
Catholic  Majesty  should  otlicrwisc  direct.  We  have  tiierefore 
given  and  conferred,  and  by  these  i)resents  do  give  and  confer  on 
you,  tiie  curac}',  or  parish  church,  of  St.  Louis,  of  Illinois,  Post 
of  Pain-Court  (a  short  loaf),  with  all  its  rights  and  appendages, 
upon  condition  of  actual  personal  residence  tliere,  and  not  other- 
wise, until  a  change  or  revocation  by  us  or  our  successors.  Re- 
quiring, in  consequence,  the  services  of  tlie  deputy  of  the  king's 
attorney,  to  see  you  placed  in  actual  possession  of  said  curacj' 
of  the  parish  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  in  accordance  with  custom 
and  tiie  usual  solemnities.  Granted  at  our  parsonage,  under  the 
seals  of  office,  the  eighteentii  of  February,  in  the  year  of  grace 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six. 

FuiAit  Dagobeut,  Vicar  General. 
New  Orleans. 

I  certify  that  tliis  present  document  is  an  exact  copy  of  the 

original   appointment   presented  to  us  by  the  Reverend  Father 

Bernard  de  Liiupacli,   to  be  deposited   for  safe  keeping  in  the 

arcliives  of  the  Government  Office  in  St.  Louis  of  the  Illinois. 

Fran'co  Cruzat. 
May  19,  177G. 


140  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

In  duo  time  Father  Bernard  arrived  in  St.  Louis, 
and  presented  his  appointment  to  the  Governor  as 
above,  and  on  the  above  day,  Sunday,  May  19,  177G, 
he  was  formally  placed  in  possession  of  the  parsonage 
in  presence  of  the  assembled  inhabitants,  by  the  gen- 
tlemen selected  for  that  purpose,  whose  names  are 
affixed  to  the  document,  and  entered  upon  his  clerical 
duties — Dubi'euil,  Perrault,  Basquez,  Hubert,  Sarpy, 
Laclede,  Berard,  Barre,  Chauvin,  Conde,  Conand, 
Labusciere,  Fran"^°  Cruzat. 

September  1,  1770. — At  another  meeting  of  the 
people,  they  resolved  to  build  a  new  stone  residence 
for  the  curate,  in  place  of  the  old  one  of  logs,  now 
dilapidated.  It  was  commenced  in  July,  1777,  and 
completed  in  the  spring,  1778. 

N'oveinber  29. — Death  of  Doctor  A.  A.  Conde, 
the  first  and  oldest  physician  of  the  place. 

DRAINAGE    OF   THE    BACK   LOTS. 

It  would  a[)pear  from  the  following,  that  every- 
thing, however  trivial,  advisable  to  l)e  done  for  the  pub- 
lic benefit  in  those  primitive  days  of  our  little  village, 
could  only  be  accomplished  through  a  town  meet- 
ing of  the  people. 

"  On  this  day,  March  15,  1778,  at  the  close  of  the  mass,  the 
iiihabitauts  of  this  post  assembled  in  the  o;overnnient  hall,  in 
presence  of  Don  Francisco  Cruzat,  lieutenant-governor,  to  con- 
sider as  to  the  most  convenient  means  of  giving  a  proper  drain- 


CLOSE  OP  GRUZAT'S  FIliST  ADMINISTRATION. 


141 


age  to  the  rain-water  that  settles  ia  the  back  lots  of  the  village 
along  tlie  back  streets ;  and  they  agreed  that  a  gutter  or  canal 
should  be  made  at  once  down  the  street  or  road  between  the  lots 
of  Francois  Bissonnet  and  Conand  (now  Chestnut  street),  to 
draw  the  water  to  the  Mississippi,  and  to  allow  a  constant  drain- 
age to  the  water  from  the  gullies  and  sink-iioles ;  and  for  this 
purpose,  they  named  Lapierre,  Taillon,  Deschenncs,  Lachanse  and 
Baccanet  to  elevise  a  plan  for  the  same,  and  have  it  done,  etc., 
etc. 

DuiiREUIL, 

A.  Chouteau, 

Labuscieke, 

Bauada, 

Peurault, 

Benito, 


Lachanse,  his  x  mark. 
Baccanet,  his  x  mark. 
Desciiennes,  his  x  mark. 
Taillon,  his  x  mark. 
Bissonnet, 
Conand, 


Jos.  Labrosse, 
Ortes, 

ROUBIEU, 

Bakgas, 
Fran'co  Cruzat. 


Whether  Gov.  Criizut,  was  removed  to  make  way 
for  his  successor  or  recalled  at  his  own  request, 
there  is  nothing  in  our  arehiv«^s  to  show,  as  all  the 
public  documents  of  a  political  character,  or  that  re- 
lated in  any  manner  to  the  official  doings  of  the  gov- 
ernors, were  carried  below  at  the  transfer  to  the 
United  States. 

He  was  a  man  of  estimable  qualities,  and  univer- 
sally respected,  as  is  shown  liy  his  re-appointment  af- 
ter the  untiniely  death  of  De  Leyba. 


CAPTAIN^  PERDINAXD   DE    LEYS  A, 

a  native  of  Barcelona,  Spain,  appointed  by  Don* 
Bernardo  do  Galvez,  succeeded  Francis  Cruzat 
as  lieutenant-governor  in  St.  Louis  June  17,  1778. 
His  brief  administration  of  two  short  years  was  I'e- 
niarkable  as  the  most  eventful  one  recorded  in  our 
early  annals. 

1778.  —  lie  had  been  in  office  but  three  days  when 
our  yet  infant  village  sustained  an  irreparable  loss  in 
the  death  of  its  early  founder,  Pierre  Laclede  Liguest, 
which  sad  event  occurred  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ai- 
kansas  on  June  20th,  while  ascending  the  Mississippi 
River  on  his  return  to  his  home  in  St.  Louis  from  a 
winter's  sojourn  in  ^^Tew  Orleans. 

This  event  was  followed  a  few  daj^s  latei*  by  the 
surprise  and  ca[)ture  of  Kaskaskia  on  July  4th  by 
Col.  Greo.  R.  Clark,  and  the  sulijugation  of  all  the 
country  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  to  the 
authority  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  an  event  which, 
although  occurring  in  the  territory  of  a  neighboring 
power,  was   destined   in   but   a   few  brief  years   to 


*  This  gentlemau,  Bernardo  de  Galvez,  had  succeeded  Unzaga  as  gov- 
ernor-general of  the  province  January  1, 1777,  as  colonel  of  the  Louisiana 
regiment,  although  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  yet  of  brilliant  talents. 
His  father  was  the  highest  Spanisli  grandee  of  America,  Viceroy  of 
Mexico,  and  his  uncle  Prime  Minister  of  Spain. 

(142) 


LACLEDE'S  SUPPOSED  WEALTH.  143 

influence  the  future  greatness  and  prosperity  of  all 
the  country  in  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

Laclede's  supposed  wealth. 

Much  has  heen  said  at  various  times  in  regard  to 
the  large  estate  it  was  th(jught  by  some  that  Laclede 
had  left  at  his  death.  The  idea  was  based  upon  the 
supposition,  a  very  natural  one,  that  as  he  was  the 
original  proprietor  here,  and  had  received  several 
grants  of  lots  and  lands,  and  during  his  residence 
of  fourteen  years  here  had  transacted  a  large  and 
apparently  prosperous  business,  he  must  have  acquired 
a  handsome  pi'operty.  But  the  reverse  was  the  case, 
Laclede  died  comparatively  poor,  barely,  if  even 
solvent,  for  after  his  estate  was  closed  there  was 
little,  if  anything,  left. 

Laclede  was  not  the  manner  of  man  to  loolc  far 
into  futurity  with  an  eye  to  the  acquisition,  while 
they  could  be  obtained  for  the  mere  asking,  of  large 
grants  of  !and  for  future  wealth  ;  he  lived  altogether 
in  the  then  present,  taking  no  more  laud  than  he  had 
use  for  at  the  time.  He  first  selected  his  block  as 
the  nucleus  of  his  future  village,  and  built  thereon 
his  store  and  warehouse,  —  this  was  the  property  of 
the  firm  of  Maxent,  Laclede  &Co.,  of  which  he  was 
only  a  junior  partner,  with  but  little  if  any  capital  of  his 
own  ;  next,  he  took  a  lot  for  his  own  dwelling-house. 


144  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

which  as  soon  as  completed  he  conveyed  at  once  to 
Mrs.  Chouteau  and  her  children,  and  from  that  day 
never  owned  another  lot  in  the  place.' 

ISText  he  purchased  from  Taillon  in  17G7  the  mill 
T.  had  put  up  a  couple  of  years  previously  on  the 
little  creek  back  of  the  village,  not  from  an  expecta- 
tion of  deriving  profit  from  it,  as  he  well  knew  that 
a  mill  that  could  barely  run  one-half  the  year  fi'om 
an  insufficiency  of  water,  could  not  prove  a  profitable 
investment,  but  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  furnish 
bread-stuffs  for  the  peoi)le  of  his  village. 

Laclede  expended  on  this  mill  during*  his  owner- 
ship of  ten  years  large  sums  of  money  in  a  new 
building,  two  ])air  of  mill  stones,  raising  the  dam, 
etc.,  and  received  a  concession  of  8  by  40  arpents, 
on  which  it  stood,  as  a  small  consideration  for  his 
large  outlay,  the  only  concession  he  ever  received, 
so  unselfish  was  the  man  in  his  aspirations. 

Laclede  had  also  a  farm  in  the  big  prairie  noi'th- 
west  of  the  village  on  land  he  had  purchased  from 
others,  and  had  made  the  improvements  by  his  own 
negroes  to  furnish  the  necessaries  for  his  family. 

The  above  was  all  the  real  estate  Laclede  ever 
possessed  in  his  fourteen  years'  residence  in  St.  Louis, 
and  of  which  at  the  period  of  his  death  he  possessed 
but  his  mill  and  farm. 

In  the  fall  of  1776  important  business  required  the 


LACLEDE'S  DEATH.  145 

presence  of  Laclede  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  spent 
that  and  the  following  winters,  nntil  the  beginning 
of  May,  1778,  when  he  set  out  on  his  return  voyage 
to  St.  Louis,  engaged  in  looking  after  the  interests 
of  certain  parties  who  had  intnisted  them  to  him; 
but  mainly  in  his  efforts  to  arrange  the  business  of 
his  firm,  which  had  fallen  largely  in  arrears,  to  his 
senior  partnei*.  Col.  Maxent,  and  others ;  to  secui'e 
whom  he  executed  a  deed  of  relinquishment  Decem- 
ber 13,  1777,  to  Col.  Maxent  of  whatever  interest  he 
might  possess  in  the  square  of  land  and  buildings  in 
St.  Louis,  which  then  became  the  exclusive  property 
of  the  Colonel. 

In  the  operations  of  the  house  during  the  fourteen 
years  of  its  continuance  a  large  amount  of  Av^orthless 
and  doubtful  paper  had  been  suffered  by  the  leniency 
of  Laclede  to  accumulate,  forming  no  inconsiderable 
portion  of  the  assets  of  the  firm,  and  was  the  chief 
cause  of  its  embarrassment  on  the  unlooked  for 
death  of  its  active  business  head. 

Laclede's  death. 

Laclede's  death  occurred  on  June  20,  1778,  but 
three  days  after  De  Leyba  had  succeeded  Cruzat  in  the 
governorship  of  this  upper  portion.  He  died  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Arkansas  on  his  way  up  from  Xew 
Orleans. 

10 


14G  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  his  death  reached  here,  an 
inventory  of  his  personal  property  was  taken,  and  a 
pubUc  sale  of  the  same  made  on  July  19th,  On  the 
2l8t  Lieut. -Gov.  De  Leyba  wrote  to  Gov. -Gen.  De 
Galvez  at  New  Orleans,  apprising  him  of  "  La- 
clede's death  and  of  the  bad  condition  of  the  build- 
ings ' '  then  occupied  by  De  Leyba  as  quarters  for  him- 
self and  his  company  (the  soldiers  on  the  ground 
floor,  and  his  [family  above) .  On  September  2nd 
De  Galvez  replies  to  De  Leyba  as  follows : — 

"  In  consequence  of  the  notice  you  give  me  of  the  death  of 
Mr.  Laclede,  and  at  the  request  of  his  creditors,  I  direct  you  to 
talie  charge  of  his  estate  and  effects  until  further  instructions ; 
with  the  exception  of  the  provisions,  etc.,  which  are  perishable, 
and  which  you  will  sell  to  the  best  advantage. 

"  God  have  you  in  his  keeping. 

"  New  Orleans,  September  2,  1778. 

"  Ber'do  de  Galvez. 
"  To  Mr.  Ferdinand  de  Leyba." 

Auguste  Chouteau  went  down  and  spent  the  win- 
ter of  1778-79  in  New  Orleans  in  adjusting  the  af- 
fairs of  the  firm. 

1779,  January  15. — Gov.  Galvez  writes  to  De 
Leyba  as  follows : — 

"  As  the  estate  of  the  deceased  Laclede  is  largely  in  debt  to 

Mr.    Maxent,   he   has  instructed  Mr.  Chouteau,  the  bearer  of 

this,  to  take  charge  of  the  proceeds  of  what  has  been  sold,  as 

also  of  the  effects  remaining  unsold.     You  will  deliver  them  to 


CLOSING  LACLEDE'S  ESTATE.  1-17 

Chouteau,  well  untlerstood  free  from  the  existing   debts,   which 
must  be  first  satisfied,  provided  such  creditors  produce  document- 
ary proof  of  the  clearness  of  tlieir  respective  demands. 
"  God  have  you  in  his  keeping, 
"  Nkw  Orleans,  January  15,  1779. 

"  Benaudo  de  Galvez. 

"  Endeavour  to  have  the  heirs  of  Laclede  satisfied  as  far  as 
possible  in  regard  to  what  is  due  the  deceased. 
"  To  Mr.  Ferdinand  de  Lkyba." 

When  Chouteau  returned  from  New  Orleans  ap- 
pointed by  De  Galvez  to  settle  Laclede's  affairs,  he 
petitioned  De  Leyba  to  authorize  him  to  sell  the  mill, 
and  ^  irm  to  avoid  their  deterioration ,  which  re- 
quest was  granted.  The  sale  took  place  July 
4, 1779.  The  mill,  with  the  6  by  40  arpents  on  which 
it  stood,  was  purchased  by  Chouteau  for  2,000  livres, 
four  hundred  dollars,  and  the  farm  in  the  big  prairie, 
G  by  80,  with  the  improvements,  a  house  of  posts 
80  feet  long  with  several  rooms,  negro  cabins,  barn, 
orchard,  garden,  yard,  etc.,  by  his  mother,  Mrs. 
Chouteau,  for  750  livres,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. The  two  pieces  of  property  producing  to- 
gether the  sum  of  2,750  livres,  five  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars. 

After  Chouteau  had  spent  over  a  year  in  closing 
up  as  far  as  possible  the  affairs  of  Laclede's 
estate,  in  the  early  summer  of  1780,  he  de- 
scended again  to  New  Orleans,  to  make  report  of  his 


148  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

stewardship,  of  which  we  find  the  following  memo- 
randum : 

"Notes,  etc.,  of  various  parties  irrecoverable  27,891      livres. 

do  whicli  raay  be  collected 7,527 

do  more  solvent 927.19 

do  of  Martigny 845.  2 

do  of  Cardinal  for  1  V2  arpents  land..  .  140 

do  of  Fran'sBissonetforanarpentdo....  80 

do  for  a  marc 120 

Which  amount  to  the  sum  of  (37,531.1)..  38,523.13.7 
And  what  he  has  delivered  to  Maxent 2,G25.  2.1 

41,148.15.8 
From  all  which  I  release  said  Chouteau  from  any  rcsponsi- 
bihty,  he  having  executed  his  commission. 
Fernando  Rodriguez,  ^  Gilberto  Ante.  Maxent, 

Peter  Conlet,  >  Witnesses.     Auguste  Choutead. 

Adrien  de  la  Plaza,     ) 

Leonardo  Mazenge,  Notary. 

Up  to  the  period  of  the  death  of  Laclede,  Chou- 
teau had  been  in  the  employ  of  Maxent  &  Co.,  as 
chief  clerk  of  the  house.  After  he  had  closed  up 
the  affairs  of  Laclede  he  continued  in  business  for 
his  own  account. 

For  some  unexplained  reason  Col.  Maxent,  now 
the  owner  of  the  square  and  buildings,  made  no 
disposition  of  the  property  for  some  ten  years  after- 
wards, it  continuing  to  be  occupied  by  the  lieutenant- 
governor  and  soldiers  as  tenants,  he  being  the 
colonel  of  the  Louisiana  regiment,  was  perhaps  satis- 


SALE  OF  LACLEDE'S  HOUSE.  149 

fied  with  the  rent  he  received.  In  meantime  for 
Avant  of  the  necessary  repairs  the  projierty  was 
rapidly  going-  to  decay,  nntil  finally  the  owner  con- 
cluded to  sell  it,  as  appears  from  the  following  docu- 
ments — 

"  Col.  Gilberto  Antonio  Maxent  informs  me  that  he  will  send 
by  this  opportunity  his  power  of  attorney  to  Mr.  Gabriel  Cerre  to 
sell,  as  he  may  deem  best,  eitiier  at  public  or  private  sale,  the 
house  and  lot  he  acquired  from  the  estate  of  Mr.  Laclede,  de- 
ceased, of  which  I  apprise  you  that  you  may  facilitate  said  Cerre, 
permitting  liim  to  sell  the  same  as  he  may  deem  best  for  the 
interested  parties. 

"  If  the  purchaser  of  the  property  will  put  the  necessary  repairs 
on  the  bouse,  now  occupied  as  your  company's  quarters,  which 
are  indispensable  to  make  it  fit  and  comfortable  for  their  occu- 
panc3',  you  raaj'  rent  it,  taking  care  to  exchange  contracts  with 
said  purchaser,  and  to  observe  the  greatest  possible  economy  for 

the  royal  interests. 

"  May  God  have  you  in  his  keeping. 
"New  Orleans,  May  13,  1788. 

"Stephen  Mirot,  Gov.  Genl." 

"To  Mu.  Don  Manuel  Perez, 
"St.  Louis." 

Substance  of  the  deed  of  sale :  — 

"A  piece  of  ground  300  feet  square,  unenclosed,  with  a  stone 
house  60  by  23  feet,  falling  to  ruins,  the  roof  rotten ;  another 
stone  house,  50  by  30  feet,  no  floors,  also  in  ruins,  and  another 
small  house,  the  property  of  Col.  Gil't  A.  Maxent,  as  ))rincipal 
creditor  of  the  deceased  Laclede,  according  to  the  relinquishment 
made  by  Laclede,  Dec.  13,  1777,  and  the  decree  of  Bernard  de 
Galvez,  of  Jan.  15,  1779,  for  three  thousand  dollars  cash,  posses- 
sion from  this  day.     St.  Louis,  Jay.  6,  1789. 

"  August  Chouteau,  Cerre. 

"In  presence  of  Louis  Dubreuil,  James  Glamorgan  and  M. 
Papin. 

"  Manuel  Perez,  Comd't." 


150  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

"  Autoine  Oilbert  Maxent,  Colonel  and  Indian  Arjent  at  New  Or- 
leans, to  Oabriel  Cerri,  at  St.  Louis,  May  10,  1788: 

"  Power  to  sell  a  piece  of  ground  in  St.  Louis  three  hundred 

feet   square,  with   three   houses,  bounded    nortli   by  ground   of 

Tayon,  and  south  Mr.  \Vm.  Ilebert,  witli  full  authority  as  to  price 

and  terras.* 

"  Antoink  RoDRKiUKZ,  )  "  Gil't  Ante.  I)E  Maxent, 

Witnesses. 


3.     5 


"Franco.  Carcasses,  5  '     "  Augdste  Chouteau, 

"  before  the  Notary,  "  Cerre. 

"  Rafael  Perdemo." 

Ill  September,  1764,  when  this  house  was  com- 
pleted, Laclede  brought  over  from  Cahokia  Mrs. 
Chouteau's  family.  They  were  domiciled  in  it  until 
1708,  when  Laclede's  own  dwelling,  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Chestnut,  being  completed,  they  moved 
into  that. 

Afterwards  it  was  occupied  by  the  lieutenant- 
governors  for  a  number  of  years,  commencing  with 
Piernas  in  1770,  their  families  in  the  upper  part,  and 
the  soldiers  quartered  in  part  of  the  ground  floor. 
Laclede  had  transacted  his  business  in  it  from  1704 
to  1778,  14  years.  The  ground  was  originally  en- 
closed with  a  fence  of  stakes. 

After  Laclede's  death  it  went  rapidly  to  ruin,  only 
the  soldiers  being  quartered  in  it  until  purchased  by 
Chouteau  in  1789. 


*  The  sale  was  approved  and  ratified  by  Col.  Maxent,  at  New  Orleans, 
June  9,  1789. 


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DENOYER  VS.  TINON.  151 

In  the  year  1775,  August  28th,  one  Jno.  B.  Per- 
rault,  alias  Duchene  "  being  about  to  go  among 
the  Indians,"  and  for  fear  of  his  death  occurring 
while  absent  on  his  perilous  "trip,"  made  his  will, 
in  which  he  names  his  friend  Lieut.  Jos.  Piernas  as 
his  universal  heir  to  his  little  i)roperty,  after  the  pay- 
ment of  his  debts.  It  was  no  unusual  thing  in  those 
eai'ly  days  of  our  settlements,  for  any  one,  particu- 
larly a  devout  Catholic,  going  on  a  voyage  or  jour- 
ney, involving  some  personal  risk,  to  leave  a  will 
disposing  of  his  property,  and  directing  i)rayers  to 
be  said  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 

It  seems  ho  returned  in  safety  from  this  first  ad- 
venture, as  going  again  on  a  similar  voyage,  August 
18,  1778,  he  made  another  will,  in  which  he  substi- 
tutes for  Piernas,  who  had  left  the  country,  the  new 
Governor  De  Leyba  as  his  heir  and  execut  r,  saying 
he  would  find  in  his  trunk  at  Mr.  Labrosse's,  notes  for 
the  money  owed  to  him.  Who  he  was  does  not  ap- 
pear, as  his  name  is  not  again  found  in  the  archives 
but  that  he  had  faith  in  men  of  high  position  is 
clear  from  his  making  choice  of  a  governor,  and  a 
brother  of  another  for  his  heii's. 


JOSEPH  MARCHETAUD  DEKOYER  AND  CLAUDE  TINON. 

"1.   To  his  Excellency  the  Oovernor: 

"  Your  petitioner  lias  tlic  honor  to  state  to  you  that  one  Tinon, 
an  inhabitant  of  Catalan  (Carondelet),  sold  him,   about  three 


152  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

years  since,  a  lot  in  this  place,  between  Beaugenou  and  Coussot, 
for  a  yearling  heifer,  which  I  delivered  him  at  once.  This  lot 
being  afterwards  found  to  be  the  property  of  one  Lardoise 
(Vachard),  by  a  concession  from  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  our 
ex-lieutenant-governor,  I  demanded  from  Tinon  the  return  of 
my  heifer,  which  he  refused,  and  which  he  yet  retains.  She  has 
now  become  a  mother  cow,  having  had  a  calf  this  last  spring. 

"  As  all  should  in  justice  belong  to  me,  I  pray  you  condemn  him 
to  return  tlie  cow  and  calf,  and  pay  the  costs  and  damages. 

St.  Louis,  Oct.  14,  1778." 

"  Joseph  x  Marchetaud." 

Denoyek. 

"Furnish  a  copy  of  this  petition  to  Tinon  for  his  reply  within 

three  days.  —  De  Leyba." 

Substance  of  Tinon's  reply : — 

"2.  Claude  Tinon  respectfully  states  that  under  the  government 
of  St.  Ange  he  received  a  concession  of  a  lot  and  an  half  lot ;  he 
built  and  established  himself  on  the  lot,  reserving  the  half  lot  for 
necessary  outbuildings.  He  afterwards  sold  the  lot  and  house  to 
Francis  Ilenr  -i,  reserving  the  half  lot,  which  he  had  inclosed 
and  used  as  iiis  garden.  Subsequently  deciding  to  remove  to 
Catalan,  !ie  sold  this  half  lot  to  Marchetaud  Denoyer  for  a  heifer 
and  pair  of  cart-wheels,  which  heifer  he  received,  but  has  not  as 
yet  received  the  wheels.  Your  petitioner  has  frequently  offered  to 
make  him  a  deed,  but  D.,  being  too  stingy  to  pay  the  costs,  has 
always  deferred  it  and  allowed  the  fence  and  ground  to  go  to 
ruin,  although  Henrion,  his  neighbor,  has  several  timos  sum- 
moned him  before  Gov.  Piernas  to  keep  up  the  division  fence, 
which  he  was  obliged  to  do,  but  afterwards  tore  them  up  and  sold 
them  to  one  Gascon,  and  removed  to  Catalan,  where  he  has  re- 
ceived no  concession,  proving  hi?  negligence.  The  indolence  and 
laziness  of  the  said  Denoyer  obliged  Gov.  Piernas  to  reunite  tlie 
lot  to  the  public  domain  and  to  re-grant  it  to  Lardoise.  Denoyers 
did  not  dare  appear  before  Gov.  Piernas,  but  waited  until  Gov. 
Cruzat  succeeded  him,  before  whom  he  presented  himself  witli  the 
hope  of  imposing  on  him,  but  this  commandant,  having  learned 


TINON  VS.  DENOYER.  153 

all  the  facts  of  tlie  case,  cast  him,  and  adiudged  the  heifer  to 
your  petitioner,  who  is  still  more  astonished  that  at  this  day  the 
said  Denoyer  ventures  to  present  himself  before  your  tribunal 
with  a  claim  of  the  kind.  He  sees  that  by  his  own  neglect  he  has 
lost  his  lot,  and  that  by  the  care  of  your  suppliant  the  heifer  has 
become  a  cow  and  a  mother,  and  this  is  why  he  seeks  by  unlawful 
means  and  subtlety  to  surprise  justice,  as  he  attempted  through 
Mr.  Cruzat  to  extort  the  cow  of  your  petitioner. 

"  The  original  concession  of  the  lot  and  half  is  entered  in  St. 
Ange's  register  of  concessions  in  the  archives ;  a  copy  of  this 
was  given  to  Ilenrion  when  he  purchased  the  lot  and  house,  con- 
sequently it  f'ould  not  go  to  Marchetaud  with  his  half  lot.  Under 
these  circumstances  your  petitioner  has  recourse  to  your  author- 
ity that  it  may  please  you  to  cast  a  second  time  the  said  Denoyer, 
that  you  sentence  him  to  leave  your  petitioner  in  peaceful  posses- 
sion of  the  cow,  that  he  delivers  over  the  pair  of  cart-wheels 
which  lie  owes  to  your  petitioner,  and  that  he  pay  all  the  costs 
and  expenses  of  this  suit  and  the  lost  time  and  expenses  he  has 
entailed  on  your  petitioner  at  this  time  of  harvesting  the  corn 
crop.     And  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  &c.,  &c. 

St.  Louis,  Oct.  9,  177S. 

"  Claude  Tinon." 

Counter  suit  —  Claude  Tinon  vs.  Jos.  Marcheteaud  Denoyer. 

"  To  his  Excellency  the  Governor; 

' '  Your  petitioner  respectfully  represents  that  for  nine  years  past 
Joseph  Marc'd  Denoyer  owes  him  the  squared  timbers  of  a 
house  he  purchased  from  Mr.  Dubrcuil,  as  per  tiie  inclosed  trans- 
fer, which  he  has  repeatedly  promised  to  deliver,  but  has  never 
taken  care  to  keep  his  word,  and  has  put  it  off  as  long  as  possible, 
telling  your  petitioner  to  have  patience,  which  through  kindness 
he  has  always  granted  him.  But  as  he  now  sees  that  Denoyer 
has  no  intention  of  ever  keeping  his  word,  he  is  compelled  to 
have  recourse  to  your  authority,  sir,  that  3'ou  please  to  order  him 
to  deliver  witiiout  further  delay  the  timbers  he  contracted  to  get 
out  for  Mr.  Dubreuil,  with  the  exception  of  fifty-three  stakes, 
wliich  he  delivered  to  me.  Besides  to  return  him  seventeen 
shingle  blocks  loaned  him  to  shingle  the  house  of  the  deceased 


154  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Lacroix,  also  the  spokos  for  two  wheels  likewise  loaned  him,  and 
further,  two  days'  wages  for  a  man  to  assist  him  in  making 
wheels.  Your  petitioner  hopes,  from  your  justice,  that  you  will 
order  the  said  Denoyer  to  satisfy  these  claims,  and  he  will  ever 
pray,  &c.  St.  Louis,  Oct.  9,  1778.  Claude  Tinon." 

"  Having  heard  this  day  the  parties  in  the  above  case  at  our 
audience,  and  the  said  Denoyer  admitting  the  justness  of  the 
claim  of  Tinon,  and  begging  a  delay  of  three  weeks  to  get  out 
the  timbers,  we  allowed  him  the  same,  without  any  further  delay, 
under  penalty  of  additional  costs,  and  sentenced  him  to  pay  the 
costs,  (fee,  &c.  Oct.  16,  1778.  De  Leyba." 

"  Decision  of  the  Governor  —  '  After  mature  consideration  and 

full  examination  we  decide  that  Denoyer,  having  forfeited  his  lot 

by  his  own  failure  to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of  tlie  laws  on 

the  subject,  furnislies  him  no  pretext  for  withholding  from  Tinon 

the  consideration  for  said  lot.     Consequently  we  decide  the  cow 

to  be  the  property  of  Tinon,  and  direct  Deno3'er  to  deliver  to  him 

the  pair  of  cart-wheels,  and  pay  the  costs  of  this  suit. 

"  '  Feun'do   df,  Letba.' 
St.  Louis,  Oct.  3,  1778. 


PETIT    VS.    MENARD. 

One  John  B.  Menard,  an  inhabitant  of  the  newly 
estabUshed  village  of  Catalan's  prairie  (now  Caron- 
delet),  at  the  house  of  Clement  Delor,  in  that  vil- 
lage, in  presence  of  several  ladies,  in  speaking  of  the 
wife  of  John  B.  Petit,  of  that  village,  accusing  her 
of  faithlessness  to  her  marriage  vows,  applied  to  said 
lady  very  offensive  and  degrading  terms.  The  facts 
being  reported  to  the  governor,  Menard  was  brought 
before  him  and  ordered  to  pi'oduce  his  proofs  of  what 


SENTENCE  OF  J.  B.  MENARD.  155 

he  had  alleged  against  the  honor  and  reputation  of 
said  lady,  failing  in  which  he  should  receive  the  pun- 
ishment his  offense  justly  mei'ited,  to  which  he  re- 
plied as  follows :  — 

"  To  Don  Fernando  de  Leyba,  Captain  of  Regiment  of  Louisiana, 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Western  part  of  the  IUinois,&c.  .* 
"Sir,  Jean  Bap.  Menard  takes  the  liberty  of  informing  you, 
tliat  by  virtue  of  your  order  at  the  foot  o2  the  petition  presented 
you  by  Mrs.  Petit,  against  him,  Ijy  wliich  he  is  required  to  prove 
what  he  stated  against  the  honor  and  reputation  of  said  Mad'e 
Petit,  or  to  pubUcly  retract,  or  to  undergo  the  punisiiment  it  may 
please  j'ou  to  inflict  on  him,  said  petition  and  order  being  notified 
to  him  at  the  prison  bars.  Consequently,  sir,  as  your  kindness 
gives  me  choice  of  my  punishment,  I  accept  that  of  public  repa- 
ration, and  I  declare  that  it  was  wickedly  and  wrongfully  that  I 
made  to  these  ladies  the  statements  I  did ;  that  it  was  while  under 
the  influence  of  liquor  that  I  calumniated  lier  honor  and  reputa- 
tion, having  always  known  her,  as  I  now  know  her,  for  a  virtuous 
woman,  with  nothing  with  which  to  reproach  her  integrity.  I 
crave  pardon  from  God,  the  king,  and  the  said  lady,  begging  her 
to  forgive  me,  and  promising  to  respect  her  on  all  occasions, 
oeseeching  you  to  ask  her  the  kindness  to  accept  the  present 
declaration,  which  I  am  ready  to  make  to  tlie  said  lady,  publicly, 
whenever  you  may  deem  proper,  and  I  will  ever  pray  for  your 
prosi)erity. 

"St.  Louis,  4  Deer.,  1778. 

his 
"  Jko.  Bap,  x  Menard. 
mark. 

"Considering  the  gravity  of  the  offence,  and  that  the  written 
recantation  is  not  adequate  to  the  injury  done  the  lady,  we  order 
that  the  said  Menard  be  conducted,  on  the  next  Sunday,  to  the 
door  of  the  parish  church,  at  the  close  of  the  mass,  where  he  will 
publicly  make  the  necessary  reparation,  as  stated  in  his  written 


156  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

recantation.  And  will  then  undergo  an  imprisonment  of  15  days, 
as  an  example  to  others.  And  is  also  condemned  in  the  costs  and 
expenses  of  the  suit. 

"  St.  Louis,  Dec.  4,  1778. 

"  Fernando  de  Letba. 

"Sentence  publicly  executed,  Sunday,  Dec.  5,  1778,  by  John 
B.  Lachapelle,  constable." 


"  Trial  of  Louis  Mahas,  an  Indian,  Deer.  31,  1778:  — 
"  To  Don  Fernando  de  Leyha,  Lieut. -Oovr. ,  &c. :  — 

"  Joseph  Labusciere,  Silvester  Labbadie  and  Francois  Beauro- 
sier,  citizens  of  this  post  of  St.  Louis,  respectfully  submit  to  you, 
that  they  have  been  appointed  by  the  citizens  of  the  place  to 
make  known  to  you  that  several  years  since  there  appeared  in  this 
place  an  Indian  named  as  above,  who  had  been  a  slave  in  Canada. 
For  six  or  seven  years  this  Indian  has  lived,  at  intervals,  in  this 
village  and  in  the  woods,  committing  a  number  of  outrages,  steal- 
ing, running  off  cattle,  debauching  slaves  with  liquor,  insulting 
citizens,  even  trying  to  shoot  some  one,  committing  all  sorts  of 
atrocities,  threatening  to  take  tlie  scalps  of  French  and  Spanish. 
As  we  all  know  him  capable  of  committing  any  excess,  and  that 
he  might  take  the  life  of  some  one  of  us,  or  of  our  slaves  while  at 
work  in  the  fields,  and  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  any  one  to 
punish  him  if  left  at  large  at  this  poste,  as  he  would  revenge  him- 
self at  the  first  opportunitj'^,  on  ourselves,  our  children  or  slaves, 
we  apply  to  your  authority  to  have  said  Mahas  arrested  and  ban- 
isiied  from  this  colony,  as  one  dangerous  to  the  peace  and  safety 
of  our  people,  having  already  committed  various  acts  that  should 
have  been  punished,  and  that  he  be  sent  to  the  superior  authority 
below  to  be  there  disposed  of. 

"Joseph  Labusciere, 
"  Silvester  Labbadie, 
"  Frans.  Beaurosier. 

' '  I  direct  an  investigation  of  this  matter. 

"  De  Letba. 


LOUIS  MAHAS'  TRIAL.  157 

"  1st.  I,  Angelo  Isaguiere,  soldier  of  tlie  garrison,  testify  that 
about  two  years  ago,  one  evening  after  retreat,  about  7  o'clock, 
I  had  occasion  to  go  to  the  rear  of  the  guard  house,  where  I  en- 
countered this  Mahas  armed  with  his  tomahawk.  As  soon  as  he 
perceived  me  he  rushed  at  me,  raising  it  to  strike,  which  I  suc- 
ceeded in  warding  off  with  a  large  stick  I  fortunately  carried,  and 
after  a  fierce  struggle  succeeded  in  wrenching  it  from  liim,  and 
gave  him  a  severe  blow  with  it  on  the  left  arm,  the  mark  of  which 
he  will  carry  with  him  to  his  grave.  He  then  cried  out,  '  you 
have  cut  me,'  to  which  I  replied,  '  why  did  you  attack  me?  You 
sought  it.'  He  said,  '  it's  trice,'  and  then  walked  off  without 
another  word.  "  Angelo  Isaguiere,  Soldier. 

"Jany.  2,  1779. 

"  2nd.  I,  Noel  Langlais,  testify  that  Louis  Mahas,  the  Indian, 
former  slave,  now  claiming  to  be  free,  was  at  one  time  the  slave 
of  Mr.  Darpentigny,  captain  of  the  Canadian  troops,  wlio  sold 
him  to  an  English  trader,  whom  the  said  slave  Mahas  assassinated, 
and  then  made  his  escape  among  the  Indian  tribes  of  Canada,  wiio 
drove  him  off,  and  he  then  came  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  shewn 
himsf^lf  a  bad  subject.  "Noel  Langlais." 

"Jany.  2,  1779. 

"I,  Joseph  Mainville  Deschenes,  testify,  that  some  four  years 
ago,  during  the  governorship  of  Mr.  Cruzat,  Louis  Mahas,  the 
Indian,  passing  along  in  front  of  ray  house  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  with  his  gun,  without  the  least  cause,  but  from 
pure  wickedness  only,  fired  his  gun  at  my  cow  insRie  of  my  yard, 
which  my  negress  was  just  on  the  point  of  milking,  from  which 
shot  the  cow  fell  dead,  and  which  came  near  killing  my  woman. 
"When  asked  the  reason  for  this  outrage,  he  replied,  'it  was 
only  for  fun,'  and  he  would  paj--  me  for  the  cow,  and  having 
made  my  complaint  before  Govr.  Plernas,  then  about  to  leave  the 
country,  and  also  before  Govr.  Cruzat,  his  successor,  he  was  or- 
dered to  give  security  for  the  payment,  which  he  could  never 
find,  and  to  this  day  I  am  in  for  my  cow. 
January  2,  1779. 

his 
Joseph  x  Mainville. 
mark 
Ortes,  Witness.  Jos.  M.  Papin,  Witness. 


158  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"I,  Francis  ViUet,St.  Cloux, certify, that  on  tlie  first  of  this  month 
of  December,  1778,  being  hunting  on  the  Illinois  river,  at  Hon- 
ores  camp,  the  said  Louis  Mahas  being  near  by,  took  his  gun,  say- 
ing he  would  kill  some  Frenchman,  and  fired  the  shot  with  that 
intention,  but  I,  St.  Cloux,  having  escaped  the  shot,  he  grapi)led 
me  around  the  body,  and  seeing  that  he  would  overpower  me  from 
his  superior  strength,  and  wicked  design  to  take  my  life,  I  called 
on  some  river  hunters  who  were  near  us  for  assistance,  when  we 
secured  him  by  tying  him  with  thongs.  The  next  morning  being 
untied,  he  came  down  with  me  in  the  boat  to  St.  Louis.  He 
boarded  with  me,  and  arriving  home,  he  went  up  to  the  loft,  and 
brought  down  his  scalp-lock,  saying  he  had  dressed  long  enough 
as  a  Frenchman,  he  would  now  dress  as  an  Indian  warrior  and  go 
and  take  scalps.  The  same  day  the  sergeant  with  the  guard 
came  and  arrested  him  at  my  house.  I  know  this  Indian  as  go- 
ing frequently  with  the  neighboring  Indian  tribes,  and  capable  of 
instigating  them  to  the  perpetration  of  great  mischief  to  the  people 
of  our  village.  And  that  he  should  be  driven  from  the  country, 
for  if  he  is  let  loose  from  the  prison,  he  will  doubtless  revenge 
himself  on  some  one  by  taking  his  life. 

Francis  Viellette. 

January  2,  1779.  P.  M.  Papin,  Witness. 

"  January  3  the  Governor  sentenced  him  to  perpetual  banishment 
from  the  country,  to  be  sent  below  for  the  governor-general's  dis- 
position. 

While  in  the  prison  here  to  be  sent  below,  he  made  his  escape 
on  the  night  of  the  27th,  by  filing  off  iiis  shackles,  and  making 
a  hole  in  the  bottom  of  the  wall,  through  which  he  passed  out. 

Louis  Richard, 
Diego  Blanco,  Sergeant.       Phillippe  Firazano,  Soldiers. 


Trial  of  Lorine,  negro  slave  of  Gaspard  Roubieu, 
for  an  assault  on  Marianne,  the  mulatto  slave  of 
Govr.  De  Leyba,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  January  22, 
1779. 


TRIAL  OF  LORINE.  159 

Govr.  De  Leyba  being  the  owner  of  the  in- 
jured woman,  placed  the  matter  in  charge  of  Capt. 
De  Volsay,  then  post  adjutant,  fo/  investigation,  and 
report  his  decision . 

Doctor  Reynal's  written  report,  as  to  the  condition 
of  the  woman  on  the  22nd  and  23rd,  much  hurt  but 
not  dangerously  so. 

First  witness. — Fanchon,  negress  of  the  widow 
Dodier,  sworn : 

"  Yesterday  at  10  a.  m.,  being  on  the  ice  at  the  mill  creek,  wash- 
ing, Marianne  was  washing  in  a  hole  in  the  ice,  and  had  some 
words  with  Louison  (Duralde's  slave),  about  the  right  to  use  the 
hole,  and  they  gave  each  otlier  some  slaps.  Afterwards,  Lorlne, 
who  was  washing  at  some  little  distance  off,  rose  from  her  place 
and  came  and  assaulted  Marianne,  who  tried  to  defend  herself, 
but  Lorine  being  the  strongest  threw  Marianne  into  the  water, 
and  would  have  drowned  her  but  for  this  deponent,  who  ran  to 
her  assistance,  and  drew  her  out.  Then  Lorine  attacked  her 
again,  giving  her  several  blows,  and  knocking  her  into  the  fire, 
from  which  the  deponent  drew  her,  and  did  all  she  could  to 
separate  them." 

Melanie,  negro  woman  of  Rev.  Father  Bernard, 
the  curate,  sworn  and  testified  to  about  the  same 
purport. 

Joseph  Cotte,  aged  14  years,  grandson  of  Mad'e 
Dodier,  sworn  and  testified,  in  substance  as  before. 
Said  that  "  after  the  few  slaps  between  Louison  and 
Marianne,  Lorine,  who  was  washing  some  distance 
from  the  fii'st  two,  ran  from  her  place  without  any 
apparent  cause,  and  came  and  fell  upon  Mai-ianne, 


160  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

throwing  her  down  and  giving  her  several  blows  on 
her  head  and  body,   and  who  was  rescned  again  by 
Fanchon.       Marianne  then   started  for   the  villaofe 
crying,  with  her  clothes  partially  burnt." 
Sentence  by  De  Volsay : — 

"To  receive  one  hundred  lashes,  fifty  to  be  intlicted  this  day 
at  4  o'clock,  on  the  public  place,  and  fifty  to-morrow,  the  24th, 
at  the  same  liour  and  place,  and  that  henceforth  she  refrain 
from  any  further  violence  towards  said  Marianne,  as  to  all  other 
persons,  either  by  word  or  deed  on  pain  of  more  severe  chastise- 
ment. 

"  Ordered  furthermore,  that  Mr.  Roubieu  and  wife,  owners  of 
said  slave  Lorine,  be  held  responsible  for  her  appearance  in 
case  of  the  death  of  Marianne,  and  until  her  perfect  recovery, 
and  that  they  pay  the  surgeon's  bill  for  attendance  until  her  com- 
plete recovery,  and  all  costs  and  cliarges  of  tliis  prosecution. 

"  Diego  Blanco,  witness.  "  Lablsciebe,  Notary. 

"  DeVolsay," 


LABBADIE    VS.    MARIE. 

Block  Ko.  9  is  that  between  Chestnut  and  Pine, 
and  Main  Street  and  the  Mississippi.  The  north  half 
was  granted  by  Laclede  in  1765  to  Rene  Kiersereau, 
one  who  came  over  in  the  first  boat  with  Chouteau. 
He  built  a  good  house  on  it  the  same  year  at  his  Pine 
Street  coi-nei-,  where  he  lived  ten  years  and  sold  it  in 
1776  to  P.  Alexis  Marie.  The  south  half  Laclede 
granted  to  one  Beor,  who  also  built  a  small  house  on 
it  the  same  year,  1765,  sold  it  to  Pepin  Lachance,  a 


LABRADIE   VS.  MAKIE.  l6l 

8tone  mason,  in  1708,  who  built  a  stone  house,  which 
he  sold  in  1771  to  Joseph  Conand,  surgeon.  C.  lived 
in  it  near  seven  years,  and  sold  in  to  Silvestre  Lah- 
badie,  merchant,  March  1778.  After  Kiersereau 
and  Beor  had  built  each  his  house  they  enclosed  their 
respective  lots,  putting  the  division  fence  as  near  on 
its  projier  line  as  they  could  then  ascertain  it  at  that 
early  day  of  the  village,  with  neither  land-marks  nor 
surveyors  to  guide  them,  and  caring  nothing  for  a 
few  feet  of  groiuid  more  or  less  on  either  side.  As 
soon  as  K.  had  enclosed  his  ground  he  impi'oved  it 
by  making  a  garden,  orchard,  etc. ;  he  set  out  a  row 
of  six  apple  trees  along  and  just  inside  the  south 
fence,  for  the  fi'uit  and  shade,  as  also  gi*ape  vines, 
etc.,  etc.,  which  thrived  well  and  soon  produced  fine 
fruit.  Things  went  on  thus  very  harmoniously  and 
neighborly  for  some  ten  or  twelve  yeai's,  but  shortly 
after  Labbadie  had  become  the  owner  of  the  south 
half  block,  he  pei'ceived  that  it  was  not  quite  as 
large  in  front  as  the  north  half,  he  had  it  surveyed, 
and  found  that  the  division  fence  ought  to  be  re- 
moved some  ten  feet  or  so  further  north  to  give  him 
the  same  quantity  as  the  north  half. 

On  representing  the  matter  to  Mr.  Marie,  who 
thought  it  a  small  business  in  Labbadie  to  claim  what 
he  had  never  owned,  they  each  having  bought  their  re- 
spective lots  just  as  they  found  them,  and  just  as  they 

11 


162  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUI8. 

liad  existed  from  the  very  earliest  days  of  tlie  village, 
yet  being  an  accommodating  man,  he  made  no  ob- 
jection to  Labbadie's  demand,  removed  his  fruit  trees 
and  the  fence,  and  relin(iuished  to  him  the  strip 
he  claimed.  Hut  this  liberality  on  the  pai't  of  Marie 
did  not  satisfy  Labbadie  ;  he  wanted  the  fruit  trees, 
and  insinuated  that  Marie  in  removing  the  trees  took 
away  that  which  was  not  his  to  take,  and  then  pe- 
titions the  governor  for  damages  and  costs. 


(( 


1,  To  Mr.  Don  Fernando  de  Leyhu,  Caplam  of  Infantry  and 
Coinmauder  in  Chief  of  the  western  part  of  the  Illinois,  and 
Lieut, -Oovernor  of  same: 

"  Siu  —  Silvestre  Labbadie  takes  the  liberty  to  represent  to  you 
that  since  the  last  year  he  perceived  that  Mr.  Marie,  his  noijjhbor, 
had  eiioroached  on  his  lot  fourteen  feet  at  one  end,  and  about  six 
feet  at  the  other,  tliat  the  first  owner  of  the  lot  of  Mr.  I\Iarie  planted 
six  fruit  trees  and  a  grape  vine  on  that  said  encroached  piece 
which  produced  much  fruit.  Your  petitioner  finding  himself  much 
restricted  by  the  deprivation  of  this  piece  of  ground,  requested 
]Mr.  Marie  to  move  back  his  fence,  which  he  did  as  requested  ;  but 
from  downright  malice,  cut  down  and  rooted  up  said  trees,  after 
the  division  fence  had  been  made,  despite  the  remonstrances  and 
prohibitions  of  your  petitioner.  These  trees  being  an  ornament 
to  the  ground,  their  removal  is  a  manifest  injury  to  3'our  petitioner, 
causing  him  much  pain  and  chagrin  —  and  that  such  violent  acts 
are  not  permitted,  but  prohibited,  by  the  laws.  The  petitioner 
resorts  to  you,  sir,  that  it  may  please  you  to  order,  with  all  tlie 
rigors  of  the  law,  and  condemn  him  in  the  damages  done  to  your 
petitioner,  and  also  to  the  expenses. 

'<  St.  Louis,  March  C,  1779, 

"  Silvestre  Labbadie." 


i(  I 


2.  Alexis  Marie  takes  the  liberty  to  reply  before  you  to  the 
petition  of  Mr.  Labadie,  by  shewing  you  how  pained  and  hurt  in 


LABBADIE  VS.  MARIE.  163 

his  feelings  he  (liuls  hiniscif,  in  l)oiiig  eoinpelled  to  defeiul  himself 
from  the  charges,  altogether  witlmiit  foundation,  that  Mr.  Lab- 
badie  has  taken  so  indirectly  to  annoy  him  by  bringing  this  suit 
before  you. 

"  The  points  presented  by  Mr.  Labl)iidie  have  no  connection  with 
those  which  existed  and  which  still  exist.  The  forestalling  of  the 
ground  of  which  Mr.  Labbadie  complains,  your  petitioner  had  no 
hand  in,  as  the  lot  was  sold  to  him  as  it  is  at  present.  He  had  the 
riglit  to  remove  the  trees,  which  are  the  cause  of  the  suit,  ns  they 
were  part  of  the  lot  acuired  b}' your  petitioner;  and  Mr.  La- 
chance,  pri  ir  owner  of  tlie  lot  of  Mr.  Labbadie,  never  understood 
that  he  sold  to  Mr.  Conand,  the  second  owner,  but  tlie  lot  as  then 
enclosed,  and  that  said  Conaml  never  sought  any  ditllculty  with 
your  petitioner  about  it,  who  himself  made  no  objection  to  restore 
to  Mr.  Labbadie  tiie  ground  he  claimed  had  l)een  fore-occupied; 
and  the  said  Labbadie  himself  said  to  your  petitioner,  when  re- 
quiring the  fence  to  be  set  back,  that  if  I  (Marie)  did  not  remove 
the  trees,  that  he  would  cut  them  down  himself ;  that  they  were 
old  and  good  for  nothing.  Again,  your  petitioner  removed  back 
the  trees  while  removing  back  the  fence,  and  not  after  the  fence 
was  made,  as  improperly  stated  by  Mr.  Labbadie.  Said  Labbadie 
said  I  had  torn  up  a  grapevine,  when  it  was  himself  that  cut  it 
off,  and  when  the  fence  was  changed  nothing  was  left  of  it  but 
the  stump,  besides  it  was  l)arren  and  never  produced  any  fruit. 

''  Mr.  Jjal)badie  falsely  states  that  he  forbid  me  to  remove  his 
trees  ;  he  forgets  that  it  is  only  the  orders  of  the  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor that  are  to  be  respected  at  this  post ;  as  to  the  interdict  of 
Mr.  Labbadie,  your  petitioner  gives  tliem  no  consideration. 

"Mr.  Labbadie  should  not  forget  tiie  proposition,  unjust  and 
indiscreet,  that  he  made  me,  that  if  I  would  give  him  an  apple 
tree,  that  he  would  send  me  six,  or  even  twelve,  that  he  could 
take  them  from  Mr.  Laclede's  orchard,  and  that  he  would  send 
tliem  to  me,  and  which  I  refused,  which  evinces  the  little  delicacy 
of  Mr.  Labbadie ;  besides  he  cut  down  himself  one  of  the  trees 
which  was  in  the  line  of  the  fence  with  Mr.  Marie. 

"  Mr.  Labbadie  said  several  times  to  your  petitioner  that  if  he 
did  not  remove  his  trees  he  would  cut  them  down,  on  account  of 
the  shade  they  gave  his  garden,  which  injured  his  vegetables, 


164  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

pro\ing  that  your  petitioner  was  never  actuated  by  spite,  as  Mr. 
Labbadle  declares  in  his  petition. 

"Your  petitioner  thinks  he  had  the  right  to  remove  his  trees, 
as  both  Lachance  and  Conand  iwo  prior  owners  of  Labbadie's 
lot,  never  considered  them  as  theirs,  and  that  they  never  had  the 
slightest  difference  about  them,  which  Mr.  Lachance  is  ready  to 
certify  whenever  required.  Besides,  Mr.  Chancellier,  of  this 
place,  was  present  wlien  Mr,  Labbadie  said  to  ;/our  petitioner 
that  he  would  not  give  20  cents  for  those  trees,  and  that  he  might 
remove  them,  which  Mr.  C.  likewise  offers  to  affirm. 

"  All  this,  which  your  petitioner  takes  the  liberty  of  submitting 
to  you,  sir,  proves  sufficiently  the  obstinacy,  the  disturbing  mind 
and  the  litigious  disposition  of  Mr.  Labbadie. 

"In  these  circumstances  your  petitioner  hopes  that  it  may 
please  you  to  decide  said  trees  his  property,  which  he  had  a  right 
to  remove  as  part  of  his  purchase,  as  any  oth3r  movable  included 
in  the  sale,  and  that  Mr.  Labbadie  be  condemned  to  all  the  costs. 

Alexis  Marie. 

St.  Louts,  March  8,  1779. 

Testimony  of  the  following  witnesses  taken  before 
the  governor  in  the  case,  all  being  duly  sworn  on  the 
holy  cross  as  Roman  Catholics :  — 

First.  "Jean  M.  Pepin  dit  Lachanse:  Am  about  40  years; 
was  one  of  the  first  owners  of  the  lot  now  Mr.  Labbadie's;  that 
he  never  considered  these  trees  as  his ;  they  were  planted  by 
Kiersereau,  who  sold  his  lot  to  Mr.  Marie,  and  always  thought 
they  belonged  to  him.  I  never  had  any  pretensions  to  them. 
When  I  sold  my  lot  to  Mr.  Conand,  I  alwp.ys  thou^^bt  I  had  my 
quantity  of  ground,  and  I  never  would  have  sought  any  trouble 
on  that  head,  and  by  the  sale  to  Conand  he  was  not  including  the 
trees,  knowing  they  did  not  belong  to  him,  but  did  legitimately 
belong  to  Kiersereau,  who  afterwards  sold  his  lot  to  IMr.  Marie. 
That  it  Wiis  himself,  Lachanse,  that  planted  the  stakes  that  sepsi- 


LABBADIK  KS.  MARIE.  165 

rated  the  lower  parts  of  their  lots,  and  he  thought  at  the  time  he 
was  putting  them  up  on  the  true  line. 
"  March  8,  1779. 

bis 
•' Jno.  M.  Pepin  x  dit  Lachance." 
marlc. 

Second.  "  Louis  Chancellier,  farmer  of  this  place,  aged  37 
3'ears :  Passing  along  the  street  lately  with  Mr.  Marie,  in  front  of 
Mr.  Labbcdie's  house,  they  there  met  him,  to  whom  Mr.  Marie 
remarked :  '  I  come  from  Mr.  the  commander,  to  speak  with  him 
about  these  trees.  He  tells  me  that  the  tax  on  trees  is  50  sols 
(cents)  ;  that  I  could  arrange  it  with  you,  if  you  wished  them,  aa 
I  was  the  owner.'  To  this  Mr.  Labbadie  replied  that  '  he 
wouldn't  give  5  cents  for  all  the  trees ;  they  are  good  for  nothing, 
and  you  can  keep  them,  and  do  as  you  like  with  them.' 

"March  8,  1779. 

"Louis  Chancellier." 

Third.  "  Nicholas  Francis  Guion,  blacksmith,  about  39  years 
of  age :  Assisted  in  removing  the  trees  from  where  they  originally 
stood  to  where  Mr.  Mane  transplanted  them,  at  which  time  the 
old  fence  had  been  removed,  but  the  new  one  not  yet  put  up. 

"March  8,  1779. 

his 

"  NiCHS.  F.   X  GoiON." 
mark. 

Fourth.  "  Louis  Lirette,  boatman,  aged  37  years :  Assisted  in 
transplanting  the  trees ;  the  old  fence  was  gone,  but  the  new  one 
was  not  then  put  up. 

"  March  9,  1779. 

his 

"  Louis    X    LiUETTE. 

mark. 
"  In  presence  of  Louis  Richard,  soldier,  and  Jos.  Labusoiebe. 

Between   Sil'e  Labbadie,  merchant,  and   Alex's 


166  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

Marie,  resident.     The  governor  recites  the  evidence 
and  gives  his  decision,  viz. :  — 

"All  this  examined  and  maturely  considered,  we  find  that 
there  was  no  occasion  for  a  suit  between  these  parties.  That  by 
the  testimony  of  Mr.  Lachanse  and  the  three  other  witnesses, 
there  were  no  grounds  for  the  action  of  Mr.  Labbadie  against  Mr. 
Marie ;  that  it  proceeds  from  a  spirit  of  chicanery  and  obstinacy 
subversive  of  the  harmony  tliat  should  exist  between  neighbors. 

"Finding,  besides,  neither  motive  nor  reasons  for  condemning 
Mr.  Marie,  it  being  proven  by  Messrs.  Guion  and  Lirette  that 
Mr.  Labbadie  was  lacliing  in  truth,  in  falsely  alleging  in  his  peti- 
tion that  Mr.  Marie  tore  up  and  cut  the  trees,  after  the  new  divis- 
ion fence  had  been  put  up,  the  contrary  beicg  proven  by  said 
deponents.    Therefore, 

"  In  view  of  the  facts,  and  to  render  justice  in  the  case,  we 
throw  out  of  court  Mr.  Labbadie's  demand  and  pretensions,  as 
they  hixv/j  no  foundation  in  reason,  condemning  said  Labbadie  in 
the  costs  of  t'iis  suit,  which  will  be  executed. 

"Given  at  St.  Louis,  in  the  government  chamber  by  us  the 
governor. 

«•  March  10,  1779. 

"Fernando  de  Letba. 

"  I  executed  the  above  decree  this  13th  of  March,  1779,  by 

delivering  to  Mr.  Labbadie  in  person,  at  his  own  residence,  a  copy 

of  the  sentence  with  a  notification  to  conform  thereto,  so  that  he 

may  not  pretend  ignorance. 

"Demebs,  Constable." 


FIRST  INQUEST. 


Domingo  de  Bargas,  a  young  Spanish  merchant, 
who  came  to  the  place  about  the  year  1777,  died 
suddenly  in  the  night  of  July  18,  1779. 

Father  Bernard,  the  parish   curate,  being  uncer- 


FIRST  INQUEST.  167 

tain  as  to  the  cause  of  his  death,  and  the  propriety 
of  interring  his  body  in  consecrated  ground,  for 
fear  he  had  died  troin  intoxication,  or  some  other 
unnatural  cause,  Governor  de  Leyba  directed  Doc. 
Bernard  Gilkins  to  hold  a  post  mortem  examination 
of  the  body,  and  report  as  to  the  cause  of  his 
death.  Repairing  to  the  house  of  the  deceased,  he 
examined  the  following  witnesses  :  — 

"  1.  Joseph  Mainville  testified,  that  M.  De  Bargas  came  across 
the  street  to  his  house  yesterday  afternoon,  and  remained  there 
until  about  5V2  p.  m.,  in  conversation,  apparently  in  good  health 
and  not  having  been  drinking.  From  my  house  he  recrossed  the 
street  to  his  own." 

(Mainville  lived  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Locust,  and 
De  Bargas  diagonally  across,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  same.) 

•'  2nd.  Ignace  Laroche  and  wife  testify:  Said  De  Bargas  came 
to  their  house  last  evening,  at  about  nine  o'clock,  to  invite  them 
to  supper  ';  ith  him,  but  Laroche  being  already  in  bed  declined  the 
invitation.  De  Bargas  then  cut  a  piece  from  a  cake  he  had  with 
him,  and  gave  it  to  them  and  retired  instantly ;  did  not  appear  to 
have  been  drinking,  and  seemed  apparently  well." 

(Laroche's  were  neighbors  at  the  n.  e.  corner  of  Locust  and 
Second. ) 

"  3rd.  Francis  Larche,  another  near  neighbor  at  the  s.e.  corner 
of  Locust  and  Second,  reported  to  Governor  de  Leyba  at  SVa  a. 
m.  that  he  found  De  Bargas'  dead  body  on  his  bed,  whereupon 
the  governor,  a  '^ended  by  Sergeant  Blanco  and  Labusciere, 
repaired  at  once  to  the  bouse  and  placed  his  seal  upon  the  prop- 
erty of  De  Bargas,  he  being  single  and  living  alone. 

Doct.  Gilkins  made  his  report :  — 

"That  De  Bargas  had  died  from  apoplexy  superinduced  by  the 
excessive  ^^eat." 

De  Bargas  was  38  years  of  age,  and  was  in- 
terred on  the  20th. 


168  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

THE    BOAT    CASE   OP   VASQUEZ   AND   MOTARD. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1770  a  party  of  five  men 
descended  the  Ohio  River  to  Louisville,  on  their  way 
to  join  Clark  at  Kaskaskia.  At  Louisville  they 
found  a  boat  in  charge  of  one  Slater  and  one  Cal- 
lender  with  a  family  on  board  bound,  as  they  stated 
to  the  party,  for  Kaskaskia.  On  this  boat  the  party 
of  five  —  Andrew  McDonald,  Aaron  Barrett,  Pat- 
erick  Shone,  Andrew  Coil  and  Tarrence  Mooney  — 
took  passage  for  Kaskaskia.  Entering  the  Missis- 
sippi, the  boat  continued  its  course  down  the  river  as 
far  as  the  River  St.  Francois,  where,  meeting  a  bat- 
teau  with  two  Spanish  gentlemen,  Messrs.  Motard  and 
Benito,  bound  for  Ste.  Genevieve,  they  were  unde- 
ceived, and  leai'nt  that  they  were  150  leagues  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio ;  whereupon  they  took  possession 
of  the  boat  in  the  name  of  the  States,  made  prisoners 
of  Slater  and  his  hand,  and  commenced  their  return 
up  the  river,  accompanied  by  the  two  Spanish  gen- 
tlemen in  the  batteau,  who  took  passage  with  them. 
When  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia 
River,  being  entirely  ignorant  as  to  their  locality, 
they  passed  it  and  reached  the  landing  at  Ste.  Gene- 
vieve, where  these  Spanish  gentlemen  hoisted  the 
Spanish  flag,  and  gave  protection  to  iL'-.  two  pris- 
oners, threatening  the   Americans  with  violence  if 


THE  BOAT  CASE.  168 

they  made  any  opposition.  On  the  following  day, 
June  11th,  the  party  having  crossed  to  Kaskaskia, 
made  affidavit  of  the  facts  before  Col.  John  Todd, 
judge  and  civil  commandant  of  the  county  of  Illi- 
nois, who  addressed  the  following  note :  — 

"  To  Col.  Geo.  R.  Clark: 

"Sir  —  Included  herewith  you  have  the  depositions  of  several 
persons,  which  indicates  a  conduct  but  little  generous  on  the  part 
of  some  gentlemen  of  the  other  side,  which  is  perfectly  known  to 
Monsieur  Cartabona ;  a  remonstrance  from  you  I  think  would  not 
be  illy  received  by  him.  If  the  Boat  and  prisoners  are  restored  to 
Justice,  as  by  the  depositions  they  should  be,  the  Spanish  honor 
will  remain  untarnished. 

"The   crew  being  of  your  command,  en  route  to  join  you, 
should  consequently  be  under  your  jurisdiction. 
"  I  am  with  respect.  Sir, 

"  Your  very  humble  servant, 

"John  Todd,  iTwdgfe." 

"Declaration  of  several  witnesses  concerning  a  certain  Boat 
and  Passengers  landed  at  Ste.  Genevieve  —  taken  before  me,  John 
Todd,  Judge  at  Kaskaskia,  June  11,  1779,  to  wit:  — 

"Andrew  McDonald,  Aaron  Barrett,  PatricI:  Shone,  Andrew 
Coil  and  Tarrence  Mooney,  being  all  passengers  in  a  boat,  coming 
from  the  falls  of  the  Ohio  River  to  the  Illinois,  have  together  and 
with  one  accord  made  the  following  narration,  viz. :  '  Relying  on 
a  certain  Slater,  who  commanded  or  steered  their  Boat,  and  who 
had  a  description  of  the  Ohio  river ;  the  said  Slater  brought  them 
as  far  as  the  River  St.  Francis,  the  declarants  believing  all  the 
time  that  the}'  were  in  the  Ohio ;  and  declare  that  they  are  very 
certain  that  the  said  Slater  and  one  named  Callender  were  per- 
fectly knowing  of  the  place  where  they  were,  but  that  their  de- 
sign was  to  take  them  to  Natchez,  or  so  near  it  that  it  would  be 
impracticable  to  return.  Meeting  a  Spanish  Batteau,  they  were 
undeceived,  and  learnt  that  they  were  one  hundred  and  fifty 


170  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

leagues  below  the  Ohio.  Upon  which  the  said  afHants  seized,  in 
the  name  of  the  States,  the  said  Boat  and  the  persons  who  thus 
deceived  them,  and  who  by  that  proved  traitors  to  their  country, 
in  trying  to  escape  to  the  English  and  taking  with  them  your 
aflQants. 

"  Having  possession  of  said  Boat  they  rowed  her  up  stream, 
without  any  assistance  from  the  cowardly  runaways,  to  try  to 
reach  Kaskaskia. 

"The  affiants  having  taken  as  passengers  Messrs.  Benito  and 
Motard,  Spanish  subjects,  who  profited  by  the  ignorance  of  the 
affiants  of  the  places  on  the  Mississippi,  and  brought  them  to 
Ste.  Genevieve,  telling  them  they  were  going  to  Kaskaskia ;  not- 
withstanding all  the  enquiries  they  made  to  learn  the  entrance 
into  the  Kaskaskia  River,  these  parties  kept  constantly  telling 
them  that  they  had  not  yet  arrived  there,  and  thus  deceived  them 
until  they  arrived  at  the  landing  in  sight  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  where 
these  Spanish  gentlemen  hoisted  their  Spanish  flag  on  the  Boat  of 
the  States,  and  gave  Spanish  protection  to  the  two  aforesaid 
prisoners,  on  the  same  Boat  that  had  been  seized  in  the  name  of 
the  States  by  the  affiants,  and  threatening  them  with  violence  if 
they  made  any  opposition. 

' '  In  conclusion  they  affirm  that  they  seized  the  above  Boat  and 
equipments  in  the  name  of  the  States  for  having  violated  their 
fidelity,  and  that  they  compelled  them  to  return,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  taking  them  to  Kaskaskia  to  prosecute  them  for  their 
offense,  and  were  able  and  would  have  accomplished  it,  and  de- 
livered them  to  justice,  had  the  Boat  and  prisoners  not  been  taken 
under  the  protection  of  the  Spanish  flag  by  the  deceitful  and 
treacherous  artifice  of  those  Spanish  Passengers. 

"Andrew  McDonald, 
"  Aahon  Barrett, 
"  Tarranoe  Moonet, 
"Andrew  Coil, 
"Patrick  Shone. 
"The  above  affiants  were  solemnly  sworn  as  to  the  truth  of  the 
foregoing  deposition  before  me  this  Uth  June,  1779. 

"John  Todd,  Judge." 


THE  BOAT  CASE.  171 

The  facts  of  this  case  havinp^  been  forwarded  to 
Gov.  De  Leyba,  by  his  lieutenant  and  commandant 
at  Ste.  Genevieve,  Don  Francisco  De  Carta  Bona ; 
he  summoned  these  two  parties,  Benito  and  Motard, 
to  appear  before  him  and  answer  to  the  charge. 

Their  defense  was  that  "  when  they  got  on  loard 
the  boot,  they  arranged  for  their  passages  witli  the 
man  Slater,  who  claimed  to  own  the  boat,  to  take 
them  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  and  as  those  who  had  as- 
sumed control  of  the  boat  to  bring  her  up  to  Kas- 
kaskia,  their  destination,  did  not  deny  his  ownership, 
and  although  they  were  aware  of  the  inten- 
tion of  the  captors  to  take  the  boat  to  Kas- 
kaskia,  finding  they  knew  nothing  of  where  Kas- 
kaskia  was,  and  desiring  to  land  at  Ste.  Genevieve, 
they  allowed  them  to  pass  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskas- 
kia,  and  come  up  on  to  Ste.  Genevieve." 

Having  heard  the  statement  made  by  these  parties 
in  their  defense,  after  maturely  considering  the  case, 
he  sentenced  them  to  pay  the  value  of  the  boat  to 
the  proper  parties,  whoever  they  might  be,  residing 
on  the  American  side. 

VALUATION  OP  THE  BOAT  AND  CAEGO. 

In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine,  the 
30th  of  June,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  by  order  of  Don  Fernando  de 
Leyba,  Captain  of  Infantry,  and  Commandant  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  the  Western  part  of  the  Illinois,  of  the  22nd 
inst.,  before  me,  Don  Francisco  Valle,  Captain  of  Militia,  and 


172  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

Civil  Judge  of  St.  Genevieve,  were  present:  Daniel  Murray  and 
Thomas  Tyler,  appraisers  named  by  Col.  George  Rogers  Clark, 
Colonel  of  the  United  States  Troops  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  Francis  Lalumandiere  and  Louis  Bolduc,  residents  of  this 
place,  and  also  appraisers,  proceeded  to  appraise,  on  their  souls 
and  conscience,  the  said  American  barge  and  cargo,  to  wit: — 

The  barge  of  nine  oars,  chains  and  seats 400  livres. 

A  lage  wooden  chest  of  old  clothes  and  hnen 100  " 

Another  do  do  100  " 

A  middle  size  box,  filled  with  flax  for  spinning 100  " 

A  do  do  do  do         100  " 

A  small  box  of         do  do  do        75  " 

8  small  do  do  do        100  " 

10  iron  pots,  1  large  brass  kettle,  and  several  kitchen 

utensils 450  " 

A  lot  of  pewter  and  other  household  utensils 100  " 

3  feather  beds,  6  sheets,  3  bolsters,  3  blankets,  all  old.. 200  " 
2  small  spinning  wheels 60  " 

4  old  rifles 400  '♦ 


2185 


(( 


And  the  aforesaid  effects  were  left  in  the  keeping  of  the  patroon 
of  the  boat  and  his  family. 

Thomas  Tiler,  Daniel  Mubbat, 

his 

LaLUMANDIEBE,  LoDIS     X     BOLDCC. 

mark 
In  presence  of  Juan  Purzada  and Dupre. 

FeANCOIS   VALLfe. 

1779. — This  year  witnessed  another  declaration  of 
war  on  the  part  of  Spain  against  England,  the  ef- 
fects of  which,  although  but  little  felt  in  this  remote 
region,  yet  tended  in  a  large  measure  to  further 
complicate  the  then  existing  state  of  affairs  between 
the  four  nations,  the  young  republic  of  the  United 
States  being  involved  therein. 


COMPLAINT  OP  MRS.  MONTARDY.  178 

A   SLANDER   SUIT. 

In  the  year  1779,  there  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Main  and  Elm  Streets,  a  coterie  of  middle  aged  mar- 
ried ladies,  who  found  it  pleasant  to  spend  some  of 
their  surplus  time  hi  scrutinizing  into  the  affairs  of 
their  neighbors,  and  in  disseminating  among  them- 
selves the  result  of  their  observations.  One  was 
Mrs.  Deschamps,  at  the  northwest  corner,  a  lady  of 
a  certain  age,  which  gave  her  precedence.  Another, 
Mrs.  Louis  Desnoyer,  at  the  southwest  corner,  a 
star  performer  of  great  brilliancy  on  an  instrument 
called  "  the  uni'uly  member,"  and  a  third,  Mrs.  . 
Louis  Ride  at  the  northeast  corner,  younger  than 
the  others  and  not  long  in  the  neighborhood,  figured 
m'^re  as  a  good  listener  than  a  participant  in  their 
slanderous  tales. 

A  Mrs.  Montardy,  wife  of  a  somewhat  prominent 
man  in  the  place,  happened  to  incur  the  ill-will  of 
this  Mrs.  Desnoyer,  who,  in  giving  loose  reign  to 
her  tongue,  related  to  the  others  certain  matters  in 
the  conduct  of  Mrs.  Montardy  that  she  had  witnessed, 
with  innuendoes  as  to  her  character,  etc.,  and  that 
"  she  thought  her  no  better  than  she  should  be." 
Whereupon  Mrs.  M.,  feeling  herself  aggrieved,  pe- 
titioned the  governor  for  redress,  and  that  Mrs.  Des- 
noyer be  punished  for  defamation,  etc.     The  gov- 


174  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

ernor,  ha\nng  had  all  the  parties  before  him,  exam- 
ined on  their  affidavits,  rendered  the  following-  de- 
cision. 

He  recites  the  several  papers  in  the  case,  sums  up 
the  evidence,  is  particnlarly  severe  on  the  wife  of  Des- 
canips,  as  the  principal  insti-iunent  in  fomenting-  dis- 
cord and  dissensions  between  the  parties,  and  con- 
cludes his  decision  as  follows  :  — 

"  All  attentively  considered  and  examined,  it  appears  that 
there  are  no  grounds  for  a  suit  in  this  case,  it  being  at  most  but 
the  idle  scandal  of  babbling  women,  which  took  place  long  since 
and  now  revived  by  dissensions  and  broils  among  themselves.  I 
throw  the  matter  out  of  court  as  too  trivial.  Impose  silence  in 
future  on  the  subject  on  all  complicated  therein,  strictly  forbid- 
ding any  reflections  on  each  other  that  might  tend  to  the  injury  of 
tlicir  reputations,  under  the  utmost  rigor  of  the  law,  to  be  im- 
posed upon  the  first  transgressor ;  and  condemn  the  two  parties 
in  the  case,  each  to  one-half  the  costs  and  expenses  of  the  suit. 

"  Feknando  DeLetba. 

"  Done  in  the  government  hall,  St.  Louis,  October  7,  1779. 


COMPLAINT   OF   JOSEPH    ROBIDOU. 

"  To  his  Excellency,  Oovr.  de  Leyba: 

"Your  petitioner  respectfully  represents  to  you  that  he  finds 
himself  shamefully  injured  in  name  and  reputation  by  the  wicked 
calumnies  invented  against  him  by  individuals  always  ready  to 
injure  their  neighbors,  and  blacken  the  purest  reputations. 

"  Having,  for  some  time  past,  visited  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
Bequet,  the  blacksmith,  with  a  view  to  marriage,  and  having 
obtained  the.ponsent  of  the  young  lady,  asked  her  hand  from  her 
father,  who  appeared  pleased  with  the  proposal,  and  asked  for 
three  days  to  consider  it,  your  petitioner  was  very  much  surprised 


COMPLAINT  OP  JOSEPH  ROBIDOU.  175 

at  the  expiration  of  the  time,  that  Mr.  Bequet  should  say  to  him 
that  lie  would  not  give  his  consent  to  the  marriage  because  he  had 
learnt  that  there  were  some  in  your  petitioner's  family  who  had 
surrendered  their  souls  to  the  devil,  and  as  there  were  no  wicked 
ones  in  the  Bequet  family,  he  would  not  introduce  any ;  that 
Pierre  Bequet,  uncle  of  the  young  lady,  had  told  Mad'e 
Laroche,  her  sister,  that  he  had  learnt  that  your  petitioner  had  an 
uncle  who  had  killed  his  wife,  and  that  having  made  his  escape, 
he  had  killed  a  citizen  for  whom  he  worked,  and  that  after  these 
murders  he  had  retired  to  Cahokia,  on  the  American  side,  and 
that  he  stole  and  carried  off  the  wife  of  one  Agon,  and  took  her 
to  Post  Vincennes. 

"Your  petitioner  having  found  an  opportunity  of  speaking  to 
Miss  Bequet,  siie  told  him  of  her  father's  prohibition,  and  what 
had  been  said  against  him,  which  compelled  him  to  demand  from 
Mr.  Bequet  from  what  source  he  derived  these  foul  aspersions, 
which  he  B.  refused  to  give  him.  This  compelled  your  petitioner 
to  obtain  from  old  inhabitants  and  travelers  from  Canada,  who 
knew  his  family,  to  ascertain  if  tliere  was  any  blemish  or  htain  on 
it.  These  persons  have  given  him  certificates,  here  accompanying, 
which  prove  that  there  never  was  any  stain  of  dishonor  on  his 
family's  good  name,  and  that  it  never  was  tarnished  by  the  law, 
and  that  all  that  has  been  said  against  him  is  false  and  calumni- 
ous. 

"  Your  petitioner  not  being  able  to  obtain  from  Mr.  Bequet  the 
names  of  dis  informants,  determined  to  obtain  himself  light  on 
the  subject,  and  applied  to  old  Mr.  Tabeau,  a  Canadian  resident 
of  this  place  for  many  years,  who  knew  your  petitioner's  family 
connections. 

"  '  Of  what  are  you  accused?'  asked  he.  'There  Is  nothing 
to  repeat  about  your  family.  I  know  them,  and  it  is  through  mis- 
chief only  that  these  things  are  said.'  Your  petitioner  replied  that 
Pierre  Bequet  told  the  mother  of  Miss  Bequet  that  one  Demer, 
an  uncle  of  your  petitioner,  had  killed  his  wife  and  employer,  and 
carried  off  the  latter' s  wife.  That  Tabeau  said  it  was  true  that 
T.  Bequet  had  inquired  from  him,  but  he  answered  him  that  it 
was  false,  and  that  he  knew  of  no  stain  on  the  family  of  your 
petitioner. 


176  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  Having  demanded  of  Pierre  Bequet  who  told  liim  all  this^ 
replied  that  he  could  not  inform  him  on  that  point.  For  this  rea- 
son your  petitioner  prays  you  to  compel  Bequet  to  disclose  his  in- 
formant in  your  presence.  Your  petitioner  not  being  deterred 
by  the  avowal  of  Madame  Bequet,  mother  of  the  girl,  that  it  was 
Mr.  Marly,  blacksmith,  and  Mr.  Robert,  Sr.,  both  of  this  post, 
who  put  these  injurious  reports  into  circulation,  and  that  it  was 
from  them  that  Mr.  Bequet  had  forbidden  his  daughter  to  spealc 
with  your  petitioner. 

"As  he  finds  himself  injured  in  the  most  sensible  point  to  an 
honest  man,  and  that  his  reputation  is  seriously  injured  in  the 
public  estimation,  by  the  malicious  reports  of  Marly  and  Robert, 
he  relies  on  your  justice,  that  it  may  please  you  to  order  these 
two  men  to  prove  what  they  so  wickedly  advanced  against  the 
honor  of  your  petitioner's  family,  and  that  they  be  held  to  repair 
authentically  and  publicly  the  gross  wrong  done  his  character  and 
reputation. 

'*  The  petitioner  ro-assures  himself  of  your  uprightness,  and 
hop-"  i  from  your  justice  that  the  said  Marly  and  Robert  will  be 
restrained  in  their  calumnies  and  slanders  against  him,  and  he 
will  continue  his  vows  for  your  prosperity. 

"St.  Louis,  Jany.  28,  1780. 

his 

"Joseph  x  Robidou." 

mark. 

To  this  petition  are  appended  certificates  tastify- 
ing  to  the  respectability  of  his  family,  from  liouis 
Lambert,  Raymond  Quenel,  Hubert  Lacroix, 
L'ange  Nicholas,  Louis  Vachard,  Grigue  and  Ta- 
beau. 

"  The  respondents,  Louis  Robert,  Senr.,  and  Jno.  B.  Marly,  both 
respectable  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  deny  the  truth  of  Robidou' s 
allegations,  that  they  ever  said  anything  about  him  whatever,  as 
they  knew  nothing  at  all  of  this  particular  Robidou. 


GRATIOT  VS.  SANGUINET.  177 

Governor  De  Leyba,  in  his  decision  of  the  matter, 
refers  to  the  evidence  pro  and  con  as  pretty  evenly 
balanced,  throws  the  case  out  of  court,  enjoining 
upon  all  parties  to  curb  their  tongues  in  fut"'e,  id 
particularly  recommends  it  to  Robidou  to  procure  the 
requisite  documents  from  Canada  in  support  of  the 
respectability  of  his  branch  of  the  Robidou' s,  and 
gives  a  year  to  establish  it  in  court.  Whether  Ro- 
bidoux  took  in  good  part  the  kindly  advice  of  Gov. 
De  Leyba,  and  profited  by  it,  or  it  was  the  result  of 
chance,  he  became  a  successful  business  man  of  our 
place,  and  was  prominent  as  a  merchant,  dying  in 
easy  circumstances,  and  leaving  a  half  dozen  sons, 
one  of  whom  in  time  became  the  founder  of  the  city 
of  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 


GRATIOT  AND   SANGUINET   SUIT. 

During  the  winter  of  1779-80,  the  people  of  Ca- 
hokia  were  very  much  exercised  by  the  continued 
fear  of  an  attack  on  their  village  by  the  British  and 
their  Indian  allies  with  a  view  to  its  recapture. 
However,  as  the  winter  wore  along  without  bringing 
with  it  the  expected  attack,  apprehensions  in  a  great 
measure  subsided,  and  with  the  approach  of  spring, 
matters  resumed  theii*  usual  routine. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1780,  Charles  Gratiot, 
then  doing  business  in  Cahokia,  of  which  place  ho 

12 


178  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

had  been  a  resident  something  over  a  couple  of  years, 
to  replenish  his  stock  of  merchandise,  came  over  to 
St.  Louis  and  made  a  purchase  of  an  invoice  of  goods 
from  Charles  Sanguinet,  for  which  he  give  his  note, 
payable  in  July  following,  and  took  them  over  to 
his  store  in  Cahokia.  Some  little  time  after  this  pur- 
chase, and  apprehensions  of  an  attack  were  revived, 
in  the  month  of  April  Mr.  Gratiot,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  the  people  of  that  village,  went  at  great 
personal  risk  in  search  of  Col.  Clark,  then  engaged 
in  building  Fort  Jefferson,  at  the  iron  mines  on  the 
Mississippi,  a  short  distance  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Ohio,  to  urge  him  for  assistance  to  repel  the  antici- 
pated attack. 

Mr.  G-ratiot,  fearing  that  in  his  temporary  absence 
on  this  mission  the  expected  attack  might  occur,  and 
knowing  well  that  the  Indian  allies  of  the  British 
were  only  tempted  by  the  expectation  of  pillage  and 
plunder,  took  the  precaution  to  send  his  goods  and 
valuables  across  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
knew  they  would  be  perfectly  safe.  He  sent  them 
over  by  his  clerk,  Ducheneau,  who  left  them  in  the 
care  of  Mr.  Charles  Sanguinet,  the  only  person  he 
knew  in  St.  Louis,  who  gave  him  a  receipt  for  the 
same. 

After  Mr.  Gratiot's  return  to  Cahokia  from  his 
unsuccessful  mission   in  search  of  Clark,  who  had 


GRATIOT  VS.  SANGUINET.  179 

pi'one  up  to  Louisville  through  orders  from  the  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  and  apprehensions  of  an  immediate 
attack  had  subsided,  desirous  of  having  his  goods 
for  sale,  he  sent  the  same  clerk  over  to  St.  Louis  for 
them,  but  Mr.  Sanguinet  declined  returning  them 
unless  Gratiot  gave  him  another  indorser  on  the  note 
he  had  given  for  the  goods  in  March,  alleging  that 
the  first  indorser  was  an  insolvent.  Hence  the  suit 
commenced  by  Gratiot  May  8,  1780,  and  terminated 
by  Gov.  De  Leyba's  decision  in  his  favoi*  May  26, 
1780,  day  of  the  "  grand  coup." 

"  To  Don  Fernando  De  Le.yha,  Captain  and  Lieutenant-Oovernor 

of  the  Western  Part  of  the  Illinois,  and  its  Dependencies,  &c., 

&c.: 

Sir  —  Tb  petitioner  has  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  he  pur* 
chased  from  Mr.  Sanguinet  this  last  spring,  merchandise  for  about 
sixty  bales  (peltries),  for  which  amount  he  gave  his  obligation, 
which  is  not  due  until  July  next ;  that  at  the  earnest  request  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Cahokia,  having  gone  to  solicit  from  Col. 
Clark,  prompt  assis*;ance  against  the  incursion  of  the  Indians, 
with  which  they  were  menaced ;  that  he  caused  to  be  sent  over  to 
said  Mr.  Sanguinet,  with  his  approval,  and  to  guarantee  his  pay- 
ment in  case  of  misfortune  to  which  all  men  are  liable,  the  said 
merchandise,  with  the  intention  of  retaking  them  on  his  return 
from  his  journey,  to  sell  them  and  meet  his  obligation.  That 
Mr.  Sanguinet,  on  his  request  for  the  same,  absolutely  refuse;  to 
return  not  only  them,  but  also  those  that  belonged  to  Mr.  Gratiot, 
and  which  had  also  been  deposited  with  him. 

"The  petitioner,  sir,  is  also  the  more  surprised  at  such  a  re- 
fusal, as  they  belong  to  him,  the  time  of  payment  for  them  not 
having  as  yet  arrived.  That  Mr.  Sanguinet  sunders,  by  this  ill- 
advised  step,  all  obligations,  formal  and  reciprocal,  having  already 
received  on  account  of  the  above-mentioned  obligation,  fourteen 


180  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

bales.  That  he  withholds,  moreover,  goods  that  in  no  wise  belong 
to  him ;  that  he  acts  contrary  to  all  established  laws  of  commerce 
and  against  the  fidelity  of  the  depositor. 

"In  view  of  the  above,  may  it  please  you,  sir,  to  order  Mr. 
Sanguinet  to  restore  me  without  delay  the  above  mentioned  mer- 
chandise, and  the  other  effects  placed  with  him  on  deposit. 

"  In  so  doing  you  will  be  rendering  justice. 

'<  St.  Louis,  May  8,  1780. 

"Charles  Gkatiot. 

"  Ordered,  that  a  copy  of  this  be  furnished  to  Mr.  Sanguinet, 
for  his  reply  within  three  days  from  this  date. 
"Mays,  1780. 

"  Fernando  de  Leyba. 

"  To  Mr.  don  Fernando  De    Leyha,  Commander-in-Chief  and 
Lieut. -Governor  of  the  Western  Part  of  the  Illinois: 

"Sir  —  Charles  Sanguinet  takes  the  liberty  of  respresenting 
to  you,  in  reply  to  Mr.  Gratiot  of  the  8th,  that  it  is  true  that  Mr. 
Gratiot  delivered  up  to  him  a  quantity  of  merchandise  as  securit3' 
for  54  bales  of  peltries  that  he  owes  to  Mr.  Sanguinet,  according 
to  his  note  due  in  July  next. 

"Mr.  Gratiot,  before  his  departure  to  seek  Col.  Clark,  sent 
him  word  by  his  clerk  to  receive  these  goods  at  his  warehouse  as 
security  for  what  he  owed  him,  for  fear  of  accident,  which  your 
petitioner  willingly  accepted,  owing  to  the  critical  state  of  affairs. 

"The  receipt  given  for  them  by  your  petitioner  proves,  sir, 
that  he  received  them  but  as  security  for  what  Mr.  Gratiot  owes 
him,  and  which  Mr.  Gratiot  says  himself  in  his  petition.  The 
petitioner  has  never  refused  to  deliver  the  goods  and  other  effects 
to  Mr.  Gratiot,  but  thinks  he  is  justified  in  delivering  them,  to 
require  from  Mr.  Gratiot  a  security  to  pay  him,  in  case  of  his  de- 
fault at  the  maturity  of  the  note,  as  Mr.  Gratiot  might  at  that  time 
be  absent  on  business  or  accidentally. 

"At  the  time  Mr.  Gratiot  purchased  from  the  petitioner  he 
gave  his  note  jointly  with  one  Cardinal,  who  is  at  this  time  insol- 
vent, and  the  business  even  of  Mr.  Gratiot  may  be  much  de- 
ranged. 


GRATIOT  VS.  SANGUINET.  181 

"It  is  absurd  for  him  to  say  that  he  has  paid  on  account  to 
your  supj  Uant  fourteen  bales,  as  he  has  paid  him  only  f)'/2  bales, 
and  that  i.e  has  at  Mr.  Duhreuil's  about  8  bales,  without  a  receipt 
and  to  whom  he  owes  a  considei-able  number  of  bales.  He  must 
admit  that  he  delivered  to  your  suppliant  these  goods  only  as 
security  for  what  he  owes  him,  since  he  saj's  so  in  his  petition, 
and  that  the  receipt  of  the  undersigned  conforms  to  it.  Besides, 
he  has  never  refused  to  deliver  these  goods,  but  he  thinlis  himself, 
as  already  said  before,  justified  in  asking  an  endorser  resident  at 
this  post.  If  Mr.  Gratiot  knows  himself  above  board  in  his 
business  matters,  he  can  certainly  find  an  endorser.  It  is  all  that 
your  petitioner  asks  for  his  safety.  It  is  unjust  to  now  omit  a 
guarantee  that  Mr.  Gratiot  had  agreed  to,  and  which  he  now 
withholds  from  his  creditor,  giving  grounds  for  a  suspicion  to  the 
disadvantage  of  Mr.  Gratiot  in  refusing  to  furnish  the  aforesaid 
indorser,  inasmuch  as  he  resides  on  a  foreign  shore,  and  in  pres- 
ent circumstances  his  business  might  be  embarrassed  in  the  event 
of  a  war  which  threatens  them. 

"  The  petitioner  has  the  honor  to  inform  you,  sir,  that  yester- 
day, the  9th  inst.,  in  presence  of  Duchesne,  perceiving  that  Mr. 
Gratiot  had  not  asked  him  for  a  casket  which  contains  documents 
(as  was  told  him  by  Mr.  Gratiot's  clerk  when  leaving  it  in  his 
care),  he  offered  it  yesterday  to  his  above  named  clerk,  under 
the  supposition  that  Mr.  Gratiot  might  have  occasion  for  the 
papers  it  contained,  and  that  he  might,  perhaps,  use  it  as  a  pre- 
text for  an  injurious  sutjpicion  of  your  suppliant  in  having  re- 
tained it  in  his  custody.  He  again,  sir,  offers  to  return  it  to  Mr. 
Gratiot  in  the  same  condition  as  he  received  it. 

"  In  view  of  these  circumstances,  he  prays  you,  sir,  to  enjoin 
on  Mr.  Gratiot  to  give  him  a  good  and  suflflcient  endorser  of  this 
place,  and  to  accept  his  goods  in  the  same  condition  that  it  had 
been  received  by  him,  and  in  which  he  had  already  offered  to  re- 
turn it,  both  goods  and  peltries,  and  condemn  Mr.  Gratiot  in  all 
costs  and  expenses. 

"  Your  suppliant  continues  his  wishes  for  your  prosperity'. 

"St.  Louis,  May  10,  1780. 

"  CllAKLES   SaNGUINET, 


182  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  Ordered,  that  a  copy  be  passed  to  Mr.  Gratiot,  to  be  replied 

to  in  writing  within  three  days  from  date  of  this  decree. 

•'  St.  Louis,  May  11,  1780. 

"  Ferd'o  De  Leyba. 

"  Copy  of  Charles  Gratiot  &  Jno.  B.  Cardinal's  note:  — 
"  In  the  course  of  the  month  of  July  next,  we  promise  to  pay 
to  the  order  of  Mr.  Charles  Sanguinet,  the  sum  of  five  thousand, 
nine  hundred  and  seventy-one  livres,  in  beaver  and  deer  skins, 
for  value  received  from  said  Sanguinet,  and  we  will  pay  in  the 
course  of  the  next  month  as  much  as  comes  to  five  hundred  livres 
on  account  of  the  above. 
"St.  Louis,  March  13,  1780. 

"  Charles  Gratiot. 

his 
"  Jno.  Bap.  x  Cardinal. 
mark. 

"St.  Louis  of  Iixinois,  May  11,  1780. 

"  We,  Don  Fernando  De  Leyba,  Commander-in-Chief  and 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Western  part  of  the  Illinois : 

"Having  been  informed  by  Francis  Duchenau,  clerk  of  Mr. 
Gratiot,  of  the  instructions  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Gratiot  to 
bring  over  to  this  side  his  goods,  «&c.,  being  duly  sworn  to  tell  the 
truth.  Declares  that  Mr.  Gratiot  instructed  him  to  seek  a  house 
in  St.  Louis,  to  store  his  goods,  some  peltries  and  other  things. 
Knowing  no  one  in  St.  Louis,  he  applied  to  Mr.  Sanguinet,  who 
said  to  him,  '  if  you  will  put  your  goods  in  my  house,  the}'  will 
there  be  safe,  and  you  can  retake  them  when  you  choose  ;  '  that 
the  affiant  agreed  to  it,  and  delivered  them  to  said  Mr.  Sanguinet, 
who  gave  him  a  receipt  worded  contrary  to  the  understanding  and 
intention  of  your  affiant  —  not  knowing  how  to  read,  and  having 
had  it  read  to  him  subsequently,  he  discovered  that  Mr.  San- 
guinet had  given  him  a  receipt  in  different  terms  from  Mr. 
Gratiot's  instructions,  and  stating  in  the  receipt  that  they  '  were 
received  as  security  for  what  IVIr.  Gratiot  owed  him,'  when,  on 
the  contrary,  he  had  only  deposited  them  for  safe  keeping  in  the 
fear  that  they  might  be  plundered  by  the  Indians  if  left  in  Caho- 
kia  during  the  absence  of  Mr.  Gratiot.     That  he  then  ran  back  to 


GRATIOT  VS.  SANGUINET.  183 

Mr.  Sanguinet  to  get  from  him  a  different  receipt,  which  he  re- 
fused to  give,  saying,  '  don't  be  uneasy ;  I  Itnow  very  well  that 
you  leave  Mr.  Gratiot's  goods  with  me  only  for  safe  keeping,  and 
that  you  can  take  them  when  you  choose.' 

"  Question:  '  Was  any  one  present  when  you  ran  back  to  Mr. 
Sanguinet  for  a  new  receipt?  ' 

"Answer:  'No,  there  was  no  one  present,'  and  he  again  re- 
peated that  Mr.  Sanguinet  said  to  him  he  knew  very  well  the 
goods  were  only  left  with  him  for  safe  keeping,  and  not  for  secur- 
ity, and  that  he  could  have  them  whenever  he  chose  to  come  for 
them ;  that  seeing  the  frankness  in  which  Mr.  Sanguinet  spoke  to 
him,  he  left  all  to  the  good  faith  of  that  gentlemen,'  '  which  is  all 
he  had  to  say ;  '  it  being  read  to  him,  he  said  it  contained  the 
whole  truth,  '  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,'  and  not  knowing  how 
to  write,  he  made  his  mark  in  presence  of  Antoine  Stefanelly  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Labusciere,  witnesses,  who  with  us,  the  governor, 
have  signed  these  presents. 

"  Labuscieke,  his 

"  Antoine  Stefanelly,  Francis  x  Duciienac. 

mark. 
"  Fern 'do  De  Letba. 

"We  order  Mr.  Sanguinet  to  deliver  to  Mr.  Duchenau  a  small 
casket  of  papers,  which  he  has  in  his  possession,  belonging  to  Mr. 
Gratiot,  and  which  is  not  included  in  the  receipt  for  goods  be  gave 
to  M.  Duchenau. 

"  St.  Louis,  May  11,  1780. 

"  De  Letba. 

"  To  Don  Fernando  De  Letba,  Commandant-in- Chief  and  Lieut.- 

Governor  of  the  Western  part  of  the  Illinois : 

"Sir  —  In  reply  to  the  petition  presented  you  b}'  Mr.  Chas. 
Sanguinet,  of  the  10th  inst. ,  your  petitioner  has  the  honor  to  ex- 
press to  you  his  surprise  at  the  small  amount  of  truth  that  his 
adversary  alleges  in  his  defense,  in  stating  that  the  goods  of  your 
petitioner  that  w.ere  taken  to  the  house  of  the  defendant,  were 
deposited  with  him  as  securitj'  for  a  sum  of  money  which  is  not 
due  him  until  July  next,  a  statement  of  which  it  is  easy  to  prove 


184  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  falsity,  by  the  affidavit  of  the  clerk  of  the  plaintiff,  who 
proves  OH  oath  that  they  were  deposited  only  for  their  safety  in 
the  absence  of  your  petitioner,  in  his  mission  to  Col.  Clark  for 
assistance  to  repel  the  attack  of  the  Indians,  witli  which  we  were 
threatened  on  our  side  of  the  river,  and  the  petitioner  had  no  other 
view  than  to  retake  his  property  on  his  return,  to  sell  them  and 
fulfill  his  obligations  to  the  defendant. 

"  As  to  the  receipt  which  Mr.  Sanguinet  gave  your  petitioner's 
clerk,  it  proves  his  lack  of  sincerity,  by  the  reiterated  assurances 
made  to  him  that  he  could  carry  away  the  goods  whenever  it 
suited  him,  saying  to  him  that  your  petitioner  owed  him  nothing, 
but  when  the  said  clerk  had  returned  to  this  village,  and  that  he 
had  had  read  to  him  the  said  receipt,  not  being  able  himself  to 
read  nor  write,  he  was  very  much  surprised  to  see  that  the  tenor 
of  the  receipt  differed  from  the  assurances  that  the  said  Sanguinet 
had  given  him,  upon  which  he  immediately  returned  to  said  San- 
guinet to  sliew  him  that  the  receipt  did  not  in  any  wise  conform 
to  their  agreement,  and  foimally  refusing  such  conditions. 

"  To  which  in  reply,  Mr.  Sanguinet  said  to  him  '  that  he  might 
if  he  wished,  take  his  goods  at  that  very  moment,  or  tliat  he  would 
take  care  of  them  until  he  or  your  petitioner  should  think  fit  to 
take  them  away ;  that  if  he  had,  as  was  true,  put  at  the  foot  of 
this  receipt  that  he  had  received  them  as  security  for  money  not 
yet  due  him  until  in  the  course  of  July  next,  it  was  merely  that 
in  case  of  death,  or  other  grievous  occurrence  at  that  critical 
period,  and  that  he  sought  to  render  a  service,  and  be  useful  to 
your  petitioner  as  mucli  as  lay  in  his  power.' 

"  It  is  by  these  means,  sir,  he  imposed  on  the  good  faith  and 
credulity  of  the  clerk  of  your  petitioner,  who,  believing  that  after 
such  promise  Mr.  Sanguinet  would  not  be  so  dishonest  as  to  dis- 
own or  retract  what  he  had  said,  and  refuse  to  restore  to  the 
plaintiff  his  goods  on  his  demand  for  the  same,  made  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Mr.  Dubreuil,  alleging  in  reply  that  he  was  sustained  by 
the  tenor  of  his  receipt.  Facts  which  he  now  denies  by  his 
statements  made  to  you,  that  he  requires  but  an  indorser  residing 
on  this  side  as  the  one  he  had  exacted  at  first  at  the  time  he  sold 
the  goods,  is,  as  he  now  pretends,  insolvent,  and  that  the  business 
of  the  plaintiff  might  be  found  embarrassed. 


GRATIOT  VS.  SANGUINET.  185 

"Your  suppliant  is  very  much  surprised  to  see  that  Mr.  San- 
guinet  assumes  to  see  so  clearly  into  the  business  transactions  of 
your  petitioner,  and  would  be  pleased  that  he  would  point  out  to 
liim  in  what,  and  towards  whom  he  has  failed  to  fulfill  any  engage- 
ment he  has  entered  into.  It  would  seem  by  his  statement  as  if 
he  was  seeking  to  injure  your  petitioner's  credit,  with  the  view  of 
sustaining  his  own  cause,  but  he  deceives  himself ;  he  is  dealing 
with  a  tribunal  too  upright,  a  judge  too  wise  and  enlightened  not 
to  discern  the  just  and  reasonable  demand  of  your  petitioner, 
presenting  him  nothing  without  the  proofs  to  sustain  his  position. 

"  As  respects  the  peltries  which  the  petitioner  states  he  sent  to 
Mr.  Sanguinet,  his  receipts  can  convince  you  that  it  was  to  him 
and  not  to  Mr.  Dubreuil,  that  they  were  sent,  and  in  regard  to 
the  merchandises,  they  were  never  deposited  as  security  with  him, 
as  your  petitioner  has  already  previously  explained,  seeing  that 
he  owes  him  nothing  at  this  time.  That  if  he  had  them  sent  over 
to  him,  it  was  to  endeavor  to  insure  them  from  the  possible  events 
they  were  daily  expecting  to  occur  on  this  side ;  that  he  even  sent 
all  his  private  valuable  papers,  and  he  believes  that  neither  Mr. 
Sanguinet,  nor  any  other  one  whomsoever,  can  controvert  the 
propriety  of  the  act. 

"  It  would  seem  as  if  Mr.  Sanguinet  was  endeavoring,  in  acting 
contrary  to  all  the  laws  of  commerce,  in  abusing  the  good  faitli 
and  confidence  of  the  trustee,  in  even  seeking  to  affect  his  credit, 
alleging  in  his  statement  only  acts,  the  falsity  of  wliich  are  so 
well  proven,  shows  that  he  is  sensible  of  the  weakness  of  his  cause 
in  straying  so  far  from  the  truth. 

"Perceiving  all  this,  will  it  please  you,  sir,  to  order,  in  the 
event  of  his  refusal  to  return  at  once  the  goods  which  belong  to 
your  petitioner,  that  he  keep  them  for  his  own  account,  and  for 
which  he  will  pay  according  to  the  bill  which  will  be  presented  to 
him  by  the  plaintiff ;  and  that  ho  be  required  to  pay  all  the  costs, 
expenses  and  damages  arising  therefrom  —  and  your  petitioner 
will  not  cease  to  address  his  vows  to  heaven  for  your  prosperity 
and  just  decision  in  the  case. 

"  Cahokia,  May  12,  1780. 

"Chart.es  Gratiot. 


186  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

'•  Considering  tlic  present  petition,  we  summoned  Mr.  Clias. 
Sanguinct  to  appear  before  us,  to  declare  if  he  consented  to  keep 
ttie  goods  wliich  lie  has  in  his  hands  belonging  to  Mr.  Charles 
Gratiot,  for  himself,  according  to  the  prices  Mr.  Gratiot  Axes  on 
them.  Who  replied  that  '  he  agree*!  to  keep  them  if  the  prices 
set  on  them  l)y  Mr.  Gratiot  is  reasonable,  and  in  case  he  values 
them  too  high,  that  we  please  to  name  four  arbitrators  in  this 
post  to  fix  a  price  that  will  be  neither  to  the  disadvantage  of  Mr. 
Gratiot  nor  to  himself ;  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  the  quality 
and  amount  of  the  goods  that  are  contained  in  the  bales  that  had 
been  placed  in  his  hands,  requiring  that  before  taking  them  for 
his  own  account,  the  eight  bales  that  are  at  Mr.  Dubreuil's  be  sent 
hira  on  account,  according  to  the  receipt  which  shall  be  made  for 
them  by  the  arbitrators.' 

"  Which  he  signed  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Jos.  Labusciere  and 
Louis  Richard,  soldier,  witnesses,  St.  Louis,  May  13,  1780. 

"  Labuscieue,  Louis  Richard.  Chaules  Sanguinet. 

"  A  copy  of  which  rci)!}'  we  direct  to  be  furnished  to  Mr. 
Gratiot,  with  the  present  order,  so  that  said  Mr.  Gratiot  may  send 
us  the  invoice  of  the  said  goods  within  three  days  of  the  present 
order,  with  the  prices  he  intends  to  fix  on  said  merchandise. 

"  Ferd'o  de  Letba. 

"  Given  at  St.  Louis,  May  13,  1780. 

*'  To  Don  Fernandn  de  Leyba,  Capt.  of  the  Regiment  of  Infantry 
of  Louisiana,  Commandant-in-Chief  and  Lieut.- Governor  of 
the  Western  part  of  the  Illinois: 

"  Sir  —  According  to  the  order  at  the  foot  of  the  petition  which 
your  suppliant  had  the  honor  of  addressing  to  you  from  this 
place,  and  the  reply  that  Mr.  Sangninet  made  thereto,  by  which 
he  accepts  and  consents  to  keep  for  his  own  account  the  merchan- 
dise, provided  the  plaintiff  puts  them  at  a  reasonable  price ;  if 
not,  he  prays  you  to  name  four  arbitrators  to  fix  their  value.  To 
which  your  petitioner  has  the  honor  to  represent  to  you  that, 
although  Mr.  Sanguinet  has  unjustly  and  without  any  legitimate 
grounds,  kept  his  goods,  and  refused  to  return  them  when  de- 
manded, and  that  the  plaintiff  has  left  them  with  him  since  for 
his  own  account,  seeing  that  he  was  bent  on  keeping  them;  that 


GRATIOT  VS.  SANGUINET.  187 

be  does  not  Intend  to  fix  any  higher  price  on  them  thnn  lie  is 
accustomed  to  aull  them  at  licre ;  and  tliat  he  does  not  think  that 
Mr.  Sanguinet  possesses  the  least  riglit  to  have  assessed  the 
goods  that  do  not  belong  to  him,  and  wiiich  your  petitioner  de- 
ci(Eedly  opposes  and  rejects.  Seeing  tiiey  are  articles  sid)ject  to 
fluctuations  in  their  prices,  according  to  their  abundance  or 
scarcity  in  the  country,  and  which  your  petitioner  himself  pur- 
chased at  i.:a.orbitant  prices. 

"  Consequently,  may  it  please  you,  sir,  to  order  him  to  keep 
the  goods  at  the  prices  which  your  petitioner  sends  you  in  the 
memorandum  herewith  enclosed,  being  the  prices  at  which  he  sells 
daily  the  majority  of  the  articles  mentioned.  And  that  it  please 
you  to  appoint  two  persons,  or  allow  each  party  to  appoint  one, 
to  make  an  inventory  of  said  goods,  in  the  presence  of  the  clerk 
of  your  petitioner,  and  append  the  prices  as  given  in  the  memor- 
andum, which  the  plaintiff  has  the  honor  to  send  you,  to  make 
out  the  invoice  and  foot  up  the  amount,  of  which  Mr.  Sani^uinet 
will  render  him  a  statement. 

"  In  regard  to  the  peltries  which  your  petitioner  has  in  the  cel- 
lar of  Mr.  Dubreuil,  as  per  receipt  of  the  defendant,  and  which 
your  petitioner  thinks  are  coming  to  him  from  Mr.  Sanguinet,  he 
does  not  consider  himself  under  obligations  to  send  them  to  him, 
seeing  that  he  expects  to  receive  some  from  him,  as  he  owes  him 
nothing.  But,  nevertheless,  if  the  balance  is  in  favor  of  the  de- 
fendant, the  plaintiff  agrees  with  pleasure  to  remit  that  amount, 
and  even  a  larger  amount  if  necessary. 

"  In  view  of  the  losses  of  the  sale  of  my  goods  since  the  time 
I  demanded  them  from  him  up  to  to-day,  may  it  please  you  to 
condemn  him  in  all  costs,  expenses  and  damages,  should  he  refuse 
to  keep  the  goods  at  the  prices  named  in  the  schedule,  and  do 
justice,  &c. 

"  Cahokia,  May  Ifi,  1780. 

"Charles  Gratiot. 

"  Ordered,  that  a  copy  of  the  present  petition  and  the  memor- 
andum of  prices  of  the  merchandise  attached  be  furnished  to  Mr. 
Sanguinet,  to  reply  within  three  days  from  this  date. 

"  St.  Louis,  May  18,  1780. 

"  Fernando  de  Leyba. 


188  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

»•  No.  8  Is  the  memornn<1um  of  the  prices  of  the  goods  l)elong- 
ing  to  Cbarlofi  (tnitiot,  and  loft  for  IIk;  account  of  Mr.  Cliarlus 
Sanguinet,  mercli  .nt  of  St.  Louis,  unnuccHsary  to  copy. 

♦'  To  Mr.  Don  Fernando  da  Leyha,  Commandnnt-in-Chief  and 
Lieut. -Governor  of  the  Western  part  of  the  IllinoiH,  &c.  : 
"  Siu  —  Charles  Sanguinet  htis  tlie  honor  to  represent  to  you 
that  in  reply  to  tlie  petition  of  i>lr.  Charles  Gratiot,  which  was 
notified  to  him  the  18th  Inst.,  with  the  memorandum  in  wliich  he 
fixes  himself  the  prices  of  the  goods  which  he  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  petitioner,  and  which  he  finds  excessively  exorbitant,  and 
pushed  to  the  utmost  limits.  Mr.  Gratiot  docs  not  reflect  that 
such  a  proposition  cannot  be  entertained,  and  that  the  i)rices  are 
higher  even  than  retail  prices.  Your  petitioner,  sir,  will  willingly 
accept  the  goods,  but  not  at  a  price  which  would  entail  tlic  ruin 
of  himself  and  family,  especially  as  Mr.  Gratiot  should  recollect 
that  the  petitioner  sold  to  him  at  150  %  less  than  the  prices  he 
fixes  on  them  to-day,  and  for  that  reason  he  should  not  resort  to 
such  cunning  devices  to  pay  off  one  who  so  generously  profited 
him,  and  who  would  not  have  withheld  tlie  goods  if  Mr.  Gratiot 
had  informed  him  at  tiic  time  he  purchased  of  his  resources  for 
paying  for  them,  but  whicli  in  the  position  in  whicli  tlie  country 
is  now  found,  fortune  changes  from  day  to  day,  and  your  peti- 
tioner's only  reason  for  requiring  an  endorser  was  to  be  certain  of 
receiving  the  payment  of  his  goods  at  the  time  when  it  became 
due.  But  since  he  offers  his  goods  your  petitioner  accepts  them, 
but  not  at  Mr.  Gratiot's  prices,  who,  in  a  litigious  transaction  of 
this  nature,  should  not  expect  to  be  the  sole  arbiter,  and  fix  the 
prices  so  utterly  beyond  all  reason  as  those  he  sets  down  in  his 
memorandum,  since  the  retail  prices  at  this  time  are  much  lower, 
and  in  a  sale  of  this  nature  it  is  not  to  Ije  expected  to  establish 
them  at  retail  prices,  and  your  petitioner  in  selling  them  asks  only 
to  be  refunded  the  amount  at  which  they  will  be  charged  to  him 
in  the  valuation,  &c.  This  is  why  he  persists,  in  conclusion,  that 
it  may  please  you,  sir,  to  appoint  arbitrators  to  value  tlie  said 
goods,  the  said  arbitrators  to  be  sworn  by  you,  sir,  to  conscien- 
tiously value  the  same  according  to  the  present  value  of  the  arti- 


OHATIOT  VS.  8ANOUINET.  189 

cles,  or  permit  each  of  tlie  parties  to  name  one  cacli,  wlio  may 
iippoint  a  tliird  oue,  aud  conUetau  Mr.  Gratiot  iu  tliu  cuuts  uiul 
expenaes. 
"St.  L0UI8,  May  20,  1780. 

*'  Chakles  Sanouinet. 

"  In  view  of  tlie  present  petition,  togetlier  witlj  those  lieretofore 
presented  by  Messrs.  Gratiot  and  Sanguiuet,  we  order  both  parties 
to  appoint  eacli  one  arbitrator,  who  will  meet  at  H  o'clock  a.  m 
on  Monday  next,  at  Mr.  Cerro's  lioiise  in  the  post  of  St.  Louis, 
whom  we  officially  appoint  in  conjunction  with  tlie  two  named  by 
the  respective  parties,  to  assess  the  value  of  the  goods  in  question 
and  report  their  action  in  the  case. 

"  St.  Louis,  May  20,  1780. 

"  Fer'do  di  Letba." 

"  Appointed  by  Don  Fernando  de  Leyba,  captain  of  the  regi- 
ment of  Louisiana,  comraandant-in-chief  and  lieutenant-governor 
of  the  western  part  of  Louisiana.  We  met  by  his  order  to  arbi- 
trate and  estimate  the  merchandise  belonging  to  Mr.  Charles  Gra- 
tiot, and  deposited  with  Mr.  Charles  Sanguinet.  When  about  to 
commence  Messrs.  Gratiot  and  Sanguinet  presented  themselves  — 
the  one  declarin^^  to  us  that  no  one  in  the  world  but  himself,  had 
the  right  to  value  his  goods,  and  the  other  having  challenged  the 
arbitrator  appointed  by  the  adverse  party,  we  unanimously  re- 
nounced the  arbitration,  and  returned  back  all  proceedings 
therein  between  these  parties  to  the  judicious  enlightenment  and 
decision  of  Mr.  de  Leyba. 

"  C&RRi. 
"  St.  Louis,  May  21,  1780." 

"  Between  Charles  Gratiot,  merchant  of  the  village  of  Cahokia, 
plaintiff,  versus  Charles  Sanguinet,  merchant  of  this  post  of  St. 
Louis,  defendant. 

"  Decision. — All  the  evidence  in  this  case  having  been  atten- 
tively examined  and  duly  considered,  we  decide  that  Mr.  San- 
guinet is  not  sustained  in  his  defense,  that  he  wrongfully  re- 
tained the  goods  of  Mr.  Gratiot,  that  had  merely  been  entrusted 


190  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

to  his  care  for  safe  keeping,  as  is  proven  by  all  the  evidence  in 
the  case. 

"  In  consequence  we  condemn  the  said  Mr.  Sanguinet  in  all  the 
costs,  expenses  and  damages  of  this  suit,  and  direct  him  to  re- 
store to  Mr.  Gratiot  all  the  merchandise,  etc.,  deposited  with  him 
by  said  Gratiot  ior  safe  keeping,  under  the  penalty  of  imprison- 
ment, etc. 

"  Given  at  St.  Louis  in  the  government  room  by  we,  Don  Fer- 
nando de  Leyba,  commander-in-chief  and  lieutenant-governor  of 
the  western  part  of  Louisiana. 

"  Feb' DO  DE  Leyba. 
"  St.  Louis,  May  26,  1780." 

'No  better  proof  can  be  adduced  of  the  impai'tiality 
and  uprightness  of  De  Leyba  as  a  judge  than  his 
decision  in  this  case  of  Gratiot  and  Sanguinet. 

Sanguuiet,  a  Canadian,  was  identified  with  St. 
liOuis,  where  he  had  resided  for  some  years  engaged 
in  business,  had  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Conde, 
a  former  surgeon  in  the  French  service,  with  an  ex- 
tensive and  hicrative  practice,  who  had  come  over  to 
this  side  with  Laclede,  with  numerous  family  con- 
nections and  influential  friends  in  the  place,  who 
could  not  but  feel  interested  in  his  success. 

Whereas  Gratiot  was  almost  a  stranger  in  the 
place,  but  little  over  two  years  in  the  country  on  the 
other  or  American  side  of  the  river,  without  a  single 
relative  or  connection  in  the  country,  and  his  busi- 
ness heretofore  confined  exclusively  to  Illinois.  Yet 
with  all  these  advantages  in  favor  of  Sanguinet,  of 
which  Gratiot  was  well  aware  when  he  declined  arbi- 


INROAD  OF  MAY  26, 1780.  191 

tratioii,  we  find  De  Lcyba,  regardless  of  the  sympa- 
thies of  the  friends  of  Sangiiinet,  deciding  the  case 
according  to  his  conscience  in  favor  of  Gratiot, 
regardless  of  the  effect  it  might  pi'oduce  on  his  own 
personal  popularity. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  affair  of  May  26, 1780 : 
Four  years  previously  (1776)  the  British  colonies 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  had  renounced  their  allegiance 
to  the  mother  country  and  asserted  their  indepen- 
dence. 

Two  years  later  (1778)  the  Virginians  under  Clark 
had  surprised  and  taken  possession  of  the  English 
or  Illinois  side  of  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  winter  of  1778-79  the  British  from  Detroit 
under  Hamilton  had  retaken  Vinccnnes  from  the 
Virginians,  and  expected  to  be  soon  able  to  retake  the 
whole  country  and  again  establish  the  authority  of 
Great  Britain. 

This  Illinois  side  had  been  British  for  fourteen 
years,  a  number  of  its  principal  inhabitants  were 
either  Canadians  or  Englishmen,  and  had  thriven 
and  acquired  property  under  British  rule,  conse- 
quently were  Tories  in  sentiment  and  interest,  with 
a  firm  belief  on  their  part,  as  with  many  on  the 
Atlantic  border,  that  the  rebellion  of  the  American 
people  of  the  colonies  would  soon  be  put  down,  and 
the  rule  of  the  legitimate  sovereign  restored. 


192  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

The  Illinois  Indians  were  at  that  period  all  under 
the  influence  of  the  Canadian  traders  and  their  emis- 
saries, hence  the  troubled  and  unsettled  condition  of 
the  Illinois  side,  more  particularly  at  Cahokia,  where 
the  next  attempt  of  the  British  to  recover  possession 
was  more  especially  apprehended.  But  not  so  the 
Spanish  portion  on  the  west  side,  where  the  people 
were  mostly  all  French ;  they  had  lived  in  peace  and 
harmony  with  the  Indians  since  the  first  settlement 
of  the  country,  and  there  was  no  cause  whatever  for 
apprehension,  nor  did  they  feel  the  least,  as  the 
sudden  inroad  on  to  their  side  was  so  totally  unex- 
pected and  astounding  as  to  create  as  much  surprise 
as  consternation. 

In  proof  of  the  condition  of  affairs  on  the  Amer- 
ican side  of  the  river  at  that  period,  and  the  con- 
stant apprehensions  of  the  people  over  there  of  another 
attempt  of  the  British  to  recapture  Cahokia  from 
the  Americans.  I  append  an  extract  from  the  cor- 
respondence of  Charles  Gratiot,  then  a  resident  over 
there. 

Cahokia,  December  16,  1779. 
"  Col.  Montgomery,*  Kaskaskia: 

"  I  write  you  in  haste  by  Mr.  Girardin  to  apprise  you  of  the 
calamitous  occurrences  with  which  we  are  threatened  at  every 
moment. 

"  This  night  at  about  midnight  I  was  awakened  and  told  that 


*  American  officer  then  in  command  at  Kaskaskia. 


INROAD  OF  MAY  20,  1780.  193 

the  cantiiie  (soldiers'  dramshop),  near  the  place  of  Mr.   Labbe, 
was  taken  by  the  Indians.     I  got  up  immediately  to  go  to  Mr. 
Lacroix's  to  know  the  truth  of  the  report;  reaching  there  1  found 
a  Peoria  Indian,  a  hand  at  the  said  cantine,  who  told  me  '  that  he 
liad  started  yesterday  with  Charley,  an  Indian  interpreter,  and 
son  of  the  Wolf  chief  of  the  Kickapoos,  to  go  to  the  mammelles, 
on  the  hills  about  a  league  distance  from  tiie  said  cantine,  that  on 
arriving  there  they  found  a  large  Indian  lodge  with  a  number  of 
Indians  in  it,  who  immediately  seized  Charley  and  tied  him ;  for 
iiimself,  a  woman  warned  him  that  if  he  did  not  escape  at  once 
he  would  be  killed  with  the  others.'     He  also  said  the  son   of 
the  Wolf  was  complicated  with  the  other  Indians  of  the  party. 
From  what  I  see  and  learn  they  are    Wabash  Indians,  and  may 
number  about  50  or  GO  men,  having  eiglit  lodges  united  as  one. 
Whereupon,  to  be  prepared  against  so  pressing  a  danger,  I  im- 
mediately caused  to  be  assembed  all  the  people  at  my  house,  to 
deliberate  on  wiiat  we  sliould  do,  where  we  determined  to  at  once 
despatch  twenty  of  tlio  bravest  and  most  resolute  of  our  young 
men,    well    mounted  and  armed,  witli  a  written   order   to   Mr. 
Saucier  as  their  commandant,  '  to  demand  from  these  Indians  the 
reason  why  they  made  a  prisoner  of  Cliarley,  and  to  bring  him  to 
the  village,'  and  if  the  Indians  opposed  it  to  clmrge  on  them  like 
brave  soldiers ;  and  if  the  Indians  wanted  to  enter  into  a  parley, 
to  have  nothing  to  say  to  them,  more  than  '  that  they  send  with 
them  two  or  three  of  their  chief  men  to  confer  with  the  old  inhab- 
itants of  the  village.'     I  have  just  this  moment  despatched  the 
said  horsemen  well  armed  with  a  white  flag  to  offer  them  peace  or 

war. 

Chakles  Gratiot. 

Ill  another  letter  later  in  December ,  in  reply  to 
one  from  Col.  Montgomery ,  Mr.  Gratiot  says  : — 

"  All  has  been  very  quiet  since  that  time,  and  we  have  heard 
no  further  rumors  of  the  approach  of  any  enemies." 

"  P.  S. — As  soon  as  I  received  your  hist,  I  sent  it  to  Cardi- 
nal, who  lives  on  tlie  Mississippi  a  few   leagues  above  Cahokia, 

18 


194  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

translated  into  French,  with  instructions  to  caution  all  those  of 
the  other  side,  who  had  any  intention  of  going  up  the  Illinois 
river,  not  to  expose  themselves  to  the  risk  seeing  the  danger  they 
would  incur  in  so  doing. 

"  Charles  Gratiot." 

This  day,  Friday,  May  26,  1780,  had  been  set  by 
the  governor  for  his  final  judgment  in  the  Gratiot- 
Sangninet  suit,  at  which  were  assembled  in  the  gov- 
ernment hall  the  principal  business  men  of  the  place, 
all  greatly  interested  in  the  decision  of  so  important 
a  matter.  While  so  engaged,  and  doubtless  at  the 
very  hour  itself,  this  marauding  party  of  savages,  for 
it  was  nothing  more,  were  also  engaged,  at  a  safe 
distance  from  the  village,  in  their  hellish  work  of 
shooting  down  in  cold  blood  those  innocent  and  un- 
suspecting inhabitants  whose  lives  were  so  ruthlessly 
sacrificed  on  that  eventful  day. 

All  the  circumstances  connected  with  this  massacre, 
all  the  facts  and  occurrences  previously,  prove  con- 
clusively that  no  combined  attack  was  ever  made, 
if  ever  meditated,  on  St.  Louis,  with  whom  the 
Indians  were  and  always  had  been  on  a  friendly 
footing,  but  that  it  was  the  design  of  the  British  to 
make  one  more  attempt  to  re-establish  their  authority 
in  Illinois  by  the  surprise  of  Caholda,  the  easiest 
assailable  point  on  that  side,  if  it  could  be  accom- 
plished with  but  little  or  no  loss  to  themselves,  but 
which  attempt,  if  ever  conceived,  subsequent  events 


INROAD  OF  MAY  26,  1780.  195 

admonished  them  to  abandon  as  hopeless ;  and  that 
some  few  of  then*  Indian  alUes,  disappointed  in  their 
chief  inducement  for  aiding  in  it  —  pillage  and  plun- 
der —  crossed  the  river  to  seek  revenge  for  their  dis- 
appointment by  shooting  down  any  straggler  they 
might  come  across  in  the  fields,  taking  good  care  to 
keep  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  village,  as  the  nearest 
body  found,  that  of  Amable  Guion,  was  on  his  land 
more  than  a  mile  from  the  village,  and  the  others 
from  one  to  four  miles  distant ;  and  as  there  was  no 
Indian  found  dead,  it  is  conclusive  that  there  was 
neither  battle  nor  attack  on  the  village,  but  simply  a 
one-sided  affair,  in  which  the  lives  of  seven  peaceable 
persons,  theretofore  their  friends,  were  liarbarously 
sacrificed  in  the  gratification  of  malice  and  revenge. 
And  here  let  me  add  that  when,  long  since,  I  first 
read  all  that  had  been  alleged  against  De  Leyba  by 
the  few  early  writers  on  St.  Louis,  I  imbibed  to  a 
great  extent  the  prejudices  unjustly  entertained  by 
them  against  him ;  but  after  I  had  become  familiar 
with  his  decisions  on  cases  brought  before  him,  and 
read  his  impartial  and  apparently  just  decisions  in 
most  of  these  cases,  I  became  convinced  that  he  had 
been  a  much  villified  and  abused  man  and  grossly 
misrepresented,  and  when  we  consider  the  troubles 
and  perplexities  of  his  l^rief  administration  of  the 
government,  coupled  with  the  irreparable  loss  of  his 
young  wife,  leaving  two  motherless  little  girls  to  the 


196  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIfc'. 

care  of  strangers  in  a  strange  land,  it  should  not 
excite  surprise  that  he  should  become  somewhat 
intemperate  in  his  latter  days,  as  is  alleged  against 
him  by  some  of  those  early  writers,  although  without 
proof. 

Gov.  De  Leyba's  decision  in  the  Gratiot  and  San- 
guinet  case  seems  to  have  been  about  his  ^ast  official 
act  as  governor,  as  we  find  nothing  further  from  him 
in  that  capacity  in  our  ai'chives. 

He  took  to  his  bed  with  his  last  illness  very  shortly 
after  the  sad  affair  of  May  26th,  sending  to  Ste. 
Genevieve  for  his  lieutenant,  Don  Silvio  de  Carta- 
bona,  to  be  at  ha)\d  to  administer  the  government,  in 
the  event  of  las  death,  which  it  appears  he  antici- 
pated. 

On  the  arrival  of  Cartabona,  he  executed  his  last 
will  on  June  10,  1780,  in  the  presence  of  this  latter 
and  others,  and  expired  on  the  28th,  a  brief  month 
after  the  sad  affair  of  May  26th,  his  death  doubtless 
hastened  by  the  occurrences  of  that  day,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  in  the  body  of  the  church. 


Brief  sketches  of  those  who  were  killed  on  May  26, 
1780:  — 

1.  Amahle  Guion,  Sr.,  came  from  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Chartres  with  his  wife  and  infant  son  Am- 
able,  among  the  first  to   come  here  in   1765.     He 


CHARLES  BISSETTE.  197 

built  a  stone  house  on  his  lot,  the  north  half  of  block 
No.  5  (the  8.  e.  corner  of  Main  and  Elm),  where  he 
lived  until  his  death  on  the  above  day,  at  the  age 
of  about  thirty-eight  years. 

His  widow  married  Wm.  Hebert  Leconte,  a  trader, 
a  native  of  Quebec,  on  November  3,  1780,  about  five 
months  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  Guion. 
She  died  in  1835,  leaving  a  numerous  progeny  of 
grand  and  great-grandchildren,  all  descended  fi'om 
her  only  child,  the  Amable  Guion  No.  2  above  men- 
tioned. 

Guion  had  a  forty  arpent  concession  extending 
fi'om  Broadway  to  Jefferson  Avenue  about  a  mile 
north  of  the  village  where  Cass  Avenue  is  now 
located,  a  part  then  in  cultivation  on  which  he  was 
killed.  The  writei"  of  this  sketch  occupied  a  part 
of  this  old  stone  house  in  1818-19. 

2.  Charles  Bissette  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada, 
in  the  year  1747,  and  was  amongst  the  first  that 
came  over  from  Fort  Chartres  in  1765,  with  an  older 
brother,  Wm.  Bissette,  a  thriviug  business  man,  who 
died  unmarried  in  1772,  and  several  mai'ried  sisters. 

Charles  B.  married  January  29,  1774,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seven,  a  Miss  Marie  Christine  Pepin,  aged 
twenty-eight  years,  likewise  a  native  of  Canada, 
daughter  of  Jno.  M.  Pepin,  dit  Lachanse,  a  stone 
mason,  who  built  several  of  the  early  stone  houses 
of  the  village. 


198  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

About  the  time  of  CharlcH  Bissette's  marriage,  he 
built  a  stone  house  of  40  by  20  feet,  a  large  one  for 
the  day,  on  his  lot,  the  south  half  of  block  No.  54, 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  Poplar  and  Second,  where 
he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his  death.  May  26,  1780, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-three,  leaving  his  widow  and  two 
small  boys,  Paul  and  Antoine,  and  Marie,  an  infant 
daughter,  who  when  grown  became  the  wife  of  Louis 
Boissy. 

After  the  death  of  Chas.  Bissette,  his  widow, 
Maiie  Christine,  married  a  second  husband  on  Sep- 
tember 1, 1781,  one  Jno.  Baptist  Provencher,  a  wheel- 
wright, who  died  in  1813  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Pine  and  Second,  where  now  stands  the  Boat- 
mail's  Banh,  of  which  lot  he  was  the  original  ownei* 
in  1765,  and  where  his  widow  died  a  few  years  after 
him.  The  Bissette  stone  house  on  l^lock  ^o.  54 
became  in  time  the  property  of  old  Pierre  Didier,  a 
watch-maker  fi-oni  Paris,  about  the  year  1795,  who, 
after  the  transfer  of  the  country  to  the  United  States, 
was  for  a  time  the  treasurer  of  the  territory,  and  sev- 
eral of  our  early  Fourth  of  July  celebrations  came 
off  in  "  Old  Didier'' s  Apple  Orchard.'''' 

Charles  Bissette  owned  a  tract  of  2\  by  40,  100 
arpents,  in  the  Grand  Prairie,  between  the  concessions 
of  Mme.  Hebert  and  Mme.  Dodier,  of  which  he  had 
a  few  arpents  in  cultivation.  He  was  killed  on  this 
land,  or  between  it  and  the  village. 


JOHN  M.  CARDINAL.  109 

3.  Joseph  Calve  ^  whose  son,  a  young  lad,  was  also 
one  of  the  victims,  was  an  early  settlei*  of  the  place, 
having  received  from  St.  Ange  the  second  recorded 
concession  of  a  lot  in  the  village,  April  30,  1766, 
being  the  east  half  of  the  present  block  No.  61,  on 
the  west  side  of  Second  Street,  from  Chestnut  to 
Pine,  ruiniing  back  to  the  alley,  upon  which  he  built 
a  small  log  house,  where  he  lived  a  cou})le  of  years. 
He  bore  an  indifferent  character  for  honesty,  and 
being  suspected  of  robbery,  absconded  in  the  night 
time  in  1768.  We  find,  however,  his  family  living 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  our  Vine  and  Second 
Streets  in  January,  1770,  and  until  1786.  This  Calve 
was  a  trader,  and  spent  most  of  his  time  with  the 
Indians.  The  age  of  his  son  killed  is  not  stated  nor 
where  fovmd. 

4.  Joseph  Chancellier'* s  negro.  —  Nothing  is  found 
respecting  this  person,  his  name,  age,  nor  any  other 
particular  except  the  bare  fact  that  he  was  interred, 
with  the  others  named,  by  the  priest.  Father  Bernard, 
on  the  same  day.  May  26,  1780. 

These  comprise  the  four  whose  bodies  were  brought 
into  the  village  and  interred  on  the  same  evening. 

5.  John  Marie  Cardinal  and  wife  Marianne,  came 
over  from  the  little  village  of  St.  Phillippe,  a  few 
miles  above  Fort  Chartrcs,  near  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  present  Monroe  County,  his  family  being  one 


2()0  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

of  the  fit'toon  then  constituting  the  little  vilhige,  all  of 
whom  abandoned  the  place  and  came  over  to  this  side 
in  17G5,  except  the  commandant  of  the  post,  whom 
they  left  there  "  «/o«e  in  his  glory.''''  He  lived  on 
the  southeast  (puirter  of  block  No.  20,  being  the 
northwest  corner  of  our  present  Main  and  Green 
Streets.  Cardinal  when  killed  was  a  man  somewhat 
advanced  in  years,  having  a  family  of  several  chil- 
dren, his  eldest  daughter,  Genevieve,  wife  of  Jno. 
B.  Vifvarenne,  being  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  with  a  couple  of  children. 

He  was  killed  on  a  piece  of  land  he  owned  in  the 
Grand  Prairie,  about  three  miles  northwest  of  our 
present  court-house,  east  of  the  Faii'-grounds,  now 
Lindell  Park,  and  was  buried  where  his  body  was 
found. 

6.  Francis  Hebert.  —  There  were  two  Hebert  fam- 
ilies here  from  the  start.  One,  the  Ileberts  proper, 
from  Fort  Chartres,  and  the  others,  the  Heberts 
Leconte,  from  Canada. 

Previous  to  the  establishment  of  St.  Louis,  Ignace 
Hebert,  the  father  of  this  Francis,  died  on  the  other 
side,  at  Fort  Chartres,  as  his  widow,  Helene  Danis, 
was  here  and  possessed  a  house  and  lot,  the  south 
half  of  block  N^o.  38,  prior  to  the  concessions. 

Francis  Hebert  (called  Belhomme),  their  son,  was 
born  at  Fort  Chartres  about  1750.     He  married  in 


PUANCIS  HEUEKT.  201 

St.  Lou;  on  FebfiKuy  4,  1771,  at  the  a<jfe  of  twenty- 
four,  the  <lau<^hlei'  of  Julien  Le  lioy,  a^^ed  about 
fifteen.  He  lived  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  a  Iiouhc 
built  by  his  uncle,  Jose[)h  Hebert,  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  block  So.  39,  the  northwest  corner  of  Main 
and  Poplar,  which  he  had  purchased  from  this 
uncle. 

He  was  killed  on  a  piece  of  Innd  of  ei^j^hty  arpents 
he  held  in  the  Grand  Prairie  about  four  miles  west 
of  the  court-house,  survey  No.  1287,  now  a  part  of 
Forest  Park  near  the  n.  e.  corner.  He  was  just 
thirty  years  of  age,  and,  like  Cardinal,  was  buried 
where  found  on  his  land. 

Francis  Hebert's  widow,  Madeleine  Roy,  was  mar- 
ried to  her  second  husband,  Jno.  B.  Truteau,  on 
May  1,  1781,  one  year  after  Hebert's  death.  Tru- 
teau (a  corruption,  properly  Trudcau)  was  the  only 
village  schoolmaster  of  the  Spanish  days,  and  con- 
tinued to  teach  his  little  French  school  foi-  almost 
half  a  century  until  near  his  death  in  1827,  more 
than  twenty  3'^eai's  after  the  transfer  to  the  United 
States.  His  Avidow  survived  him  for  some  years. 
They  lived  for  a  long  time  on  the  south  side  of  Pine, 
a  little  east  of  Second,  where  old  Batiste  Trudcau's 
name  is  found  in  our  fii'st  St.  Louis  Directory  of 
1821.  They  had  several  married  sons  and  daughters. 
The  compiler  knew  them  well. 


202  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

7.  Pierre  Gladn,  a  Canadian,  was  the  seventh 
victim. 

In  a  recent  thoroun^h  cx;imination  of  the  old 
"parish  church  records  of  internientH,"  I  made  the 
following  discovery,  viz. :  — 

"1792,  March  21.  — Pierre  Gladii,  a  good   and 

honest  man  fi'om  Canada,  was  killed  by  the  Indians 

on  May  20,  1780,  in  the  Little  Praii-ie  and  buried 

there ;  his  remains  were  taken  up  and  re-interred  in 

the  cemetery. 

"  By  Father  Ledku,  Citrate.'''' 

This  Gladu's  name  is  no  where  found  in  the  annals 
but  in  this  one  instance,  and  was  not  identified  with 
the  village.  This  completes  the  list  of  victims  of 
the  fatal  day. 

The  will  of  Don  Fernando  De  Leyba : — 

"  Before  me,  Don  Francisco  de  Cartabona,  Lieutenant  of  In- 
fantry in  tlie  Battalion  of  Louisiana,  garrisoned  in  the  post  of 
St.  Louis,  in  default  of  a  notary  therein,  at  the  request  of  Don 
Ferdinand  Do  Leyba,  captain  of  the  Regiment  of  Infantry  of 
Louisiana,  Commander-in-chief  and  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the 
western  part  of  Illinois,  I  repaired  to  tiie  Government  Room  in 
order  to  i-eceive  the  last  Will  of  the  said  Don  Fernando  De  Leyba, 
where  I  found  him  in  bed  dangerously  ill,  but  sound  in  mind,  in 
memory  and  judgment,  as  appeared  to  me  and  to  the  undersigned 
witnesses. 

The  said  De  Leyba,  knowing  the  certainty  of  his  death,  and 
desiring  not  to  be  overtaken  by  it  without  having  disposed  of  his 
goods,  and  to  put  his  business  in  good  order,  has  requested  me 


DE  LEVBA'S  WILL.  203 

to  recetvo  the  present  testament,  which  he  has  dictated  in  the  fol- 
lowing luanntM',  to  wit:  — 

First. — As  ft  good  Catholic,  npr>Htolic  and  Roman  Cliristian,  he 
commends  his  soul  to  God,  besut^'hing  the  BlesHcd  Vir<^in  Mary, 
and  all  the  Saints  of  the  celestial  court  to  intercede  for  him,  so  that 
the  Almighty  may  receive  him  among  the  Hlesscd. 

'•  The  testator  wishes  and  ordains  that  his  l)ody  be  buried  in 
the  church  of  this  parish  by  the  side  of  his  deceased  wife,  and 
a  solemn  service  be  celebrated  the  day  of  iiis  funeral ;  moreover, 
fifty  low  masses  and  one  Solemn  Service  at  the  end  of  the  year 
for  the  repose  of  his  soul,  and  tliat  of  his  wife, 

"  The  said  Testator  having  two  daughters  born  of  his  marriage, 
the  one  named  Pepita,  and  tlie  other  named  llita,  he  acknowl- 
edges them  as  being  liis  legitimate  daughters. 

"  He  wisiies  and  ordains  that  tliere  shall  be  remitted  out  of  his 
goods  to  Madame  Joseph  Viscageaux,  his  mother,  at  Barcelona, 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  hard  dollars,  wliich  sum  she  shall  receive 
without  any  charge  or  cost,  ard  if  there  be  any,  it  shall  lie  on 
account  of  the  heirs  of  the  saiu  testator,  and  as  regards  all  the 
other  goods  which  he  possesses  in  this  colony,  he  leaves  them  to 
the  care  of  M.  do  Galvcz,  governor-general  of  Louisiana,  to  be 
invested,  and  the  annual  interest  thereof  to  be  employed  in  ed- 
ucating his  two  daughters,  either  in  the  convent  or  any  other 
boarding  school. 

"  The  said  Testator  has  appointed  for  his  Testamentary  Exe- 
cutor, Francis  Vigo,  merchant,  residing  in  tliis  post,  and  for  his 
substitute,  Benito  Vasquez,  Lieutenant  of  Militia,  requesting  them 
to  take  this  cliarge,  and  placing  in  their  hands  all  his  goods. 

"  The  said  Testator  declares  that  all  the  furniture  existing  in 
the  Government  House  is  his  personal  property,  so  that  no  person 
can  claim  anything  thereof,  excepting,  nevertheless,  the  goods 
which  Mr.  Vigo  has  brought  upon  his  last  voyage,  and  which 
belong  to  the  presents  for  the  Indians. 

"  The  testator  wishes  an<l  ordains  that  all  his  personal  goods 
and  effects,  whatever  their  nature,  be  lawfully  valued,  and  those 
which  may  be  sold  here  to  advantage  to  be  sold  ;  as  regards  those 
which  may  be  more  advantageously  sold  at  New  Orleans,   IVIr. 


204  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Vigo  will  send  tliem  to  that  City  with  his  deceased  wife's  clothes, 
and  the  silver  plate  shall  be  divided  between  his  two  daughters. 

"  The  said  Testator,  not  having  regulated  his  business  with  the 
said  Vigo,  he  has  given  him  two  bills  of  exchange,  one  for  the 
sum  of  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,  and  the 
other  for  fourteen  hundred  and  fifty-two  dollars ;  by  means  of 
these  sums  all  accounts  between  the  testator  and  the  said  Vigo 
are  liquidated  and  settled ;  and  if  after  the  death  of  the  tes- 
tator, there  should  be  found  notes  or  bills  due  by  each  to  the 
other,  they  shall  be  null  of  full  right. 

"  The  testator  wishes  and  ordains  that  Mr.  Sarpy,  who  has 
transacted  business  with  him,  and  all  others  in  the  same  case, 
should  rendT  their  accounts  to  the  said  Vigo,  his  testamentary 
executor. 

"  AH  tht;  above  said  has  been  dictated  to  me,  Don  Francis  de  Car- 
taliona  and  the  undersigned  witnesses  b}'  the  said  Don  Fernando 
de  Leyba,  and  this  present  deed  having  been  read  to  him,  he  has 
declared  to  have  understood  it  well,  and  wishes  the  same  to  be 
executed  according  to  its  form  and  tenor  as  being  his  last  will 
and  Intention.  Revoking  and  annulling  all  other  testaments, 
codicils  or  other  testamentary  dispositions  which  he  may  have 
made  before  this  present  one,  to  which  he  adheres,  and  wishes  the 
same  to  be  executed  in  everything  as  contained  therein. 

"  Made  and  executed  in  the  Government  Hall,  St.  Louis,  where 
Don  Fernando  de  Leyba  is  in  his  bed,  the  year  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty, the  tenth  day  of  June, in  the  presence  of  Joseph 
Labusciere,  residing  at  this  post,  Diego  Blanco,  a  sergeant  of  this 
garrison,  Jean  Pursada,  sergeant,  and  Louis  Richard,  soldier, 
attending  witnesses,  who  have  signed  with  the  said  Testator,  and 
with  me,  Don  Francisco  de  Cartabona,  the  same  day  and  year 
above. 

"  Fernando  de  Leyba. 

"  DiEGO  Bi-ANGo,     Juan  Purzada,     Labusciere, 

Louis  Richard,    Benito,     Vioo, 

Silvio  Francisco  de  Cartabona. 

"  First  copy  delivered  to  Bernardo  de  Galvez,  governor-general ; 
second  copy  to  Francisco  Vigo," 


INTERMENT  OF  DE  LEYBA  AND  UIS  WIFE.  205 

Governor  dc  Leyba  died,  and  was  intei'rcd  on  June 
28, 1780,  in  the  body  of  the  village  church,  alongside 
his  Avife,  who  had  preceded  him  some  nine  months, 
as  per  the  following  records  in  the  church  register : — 

"  In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine, 
the  sixth  of  September,  I,  Capuchin  Priest,  apostolic  missionary, 
Curate  of  St.  Louis,  have  inhumed  in  this  church,  in  front  of 
tlie  right  hand  balustrade,  the  J)ody  of  Madame  Marie,  of  tiie 
Conception  and  Zezar,  consort  of  Don  Fernando  de  Leyba,  com- 
mandant of  this  post,  captain  of  infantry,  invested  with  all 
the  sacraments  of  penitence  and  extreme  unction. 

"  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  signed  this,  the  day  and 
year  as  above. 

"  Fatiiek  Bernard,  3/mj'oHO?'?/." 

"  In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty,  the  twen- 
ty-eighth of  June,  I,  Capuchin  Priest,  apostolic  missionary,  Curate 
of  St.  Louis,  of  Illinois,  province  of  Louisiana,  diocese  of  Cuba, 
have  inhumed  in  this  church,  in  front  of  the  balustrade  on  the 
right,  the  body  of  Don  Ferdinand  de  Leyba,  captain  of  infantry 
of  the  battalion  of  Louisiana,  commandant  of  this  post,  with  all 
the  Sacraments  of  our  holy  mother  church  administered  to  him. 

"  In    faith  whereof    I  have  signed  the  present  the   day  and 

year  above  stated. 

"  Father  Bernard,  Missionary." 


DON  SILVIO  FRANCISCO  DE  CARTABONA 

came  up  to  St.  Louis  with  Capt.  Ferdinand  de  Leyba 
in  1778  as  the  lieutenant  of  de  Leyba' s  company  of 
the  Louisiana  regiment  of  infantry,  and  was  left  by 
him  at  Ste.  Genevieve  as  military  commandant  at 
that  post,  Francois  Valle  being  the  civil  commandant. 

When  de  Leyba  found  himself  very  ill,  with  but 
little  hope  of  his  recovery,  he  sent  for  Cartabona  to 
come  up  to  St.  Louis,  to  be  near  him  in  the  event 
of  his  death,  to  take  charge  of  the  government  ad 
interim  as  the  next  officer  in  rank.  He  reached  St. 
Louis  about  June  9th,  as  on  that  day  his  signature 
first  appears  in  the  archives  for  de  Leyba,  then  too 
ill  to  write.  His  official  acts  commence  on  June  10, 
1780,  with  de  Leyba' s  will,  and  conclude  on  Sep- 
tember 22d  —  a  period  of  three  months,  when  Cruzat 
appeared  to  re-assume  the  command. 

Cartabona  then  returned  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  where 
he  remained  until  the  place  was  swept  away  by  the 
high  waters  of  1784,  after  which  we  lose  sight  of 
him  altogether. 
(206) 


FRANCIS    CRUZ  at' S    SECOND    TERM. 

Aftei-  the  death  of  De  Leyba,  the  governor- 
general,  de  Galvez,  re-appointed  Col.  Francis  Cruzat, 
who  had  made  himself  very  popular  with  the  people 
of  St.  Louis  in  his  first  administration,  lieutenant- 
governor  of  Upper  Louisiana.  In  meantime  Carta- 
bona  officiated  until  the  return  of  Crnzat  and  his 
resumption  of  authority  on  September  24,  1780. 

Previous  to  this  inroad,  none  of  the  few  villages 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  Illinois  country  were  in  any 
manner  fortified  or  protected  from  .he  Indians. 
There  had  been  no  necessity  for  any  such  protection, 
all  being  heretofore  peaceable.  But  on  the  return 
of  Cruzat,  to  guard  against  any  such  mishap  m 
future,  he  deemed  it  best  to  erect  some  protection 
against  any  future  attempt  of  the  kind ;  thereupon 
he  directed  Auguste  Chouteau,*  who  had  made  the 
original  plat  of  the  village  for  Laclede  in  1764,  to 


*  Chouteau,  who  was  no  military  man,  albeit  a  good  pensman,  and 
had  never  seen  any  other  fortified  town  than  his  native  place,  New 
Orleans,  copied  from  that  as  his  model,  and  gave  to  St.  Louis  quite 
a  formidable  appearance  on  paper,  with  its  bastions,  towers,  demilunes, 
palisades,  sally-ports,  scarps  and  counter-scarps,  etc.,  all  laid  dowu 
secundem  artem,  and  the  people  set  to  work  with  a  will  in  their  immediate 
erection;  the  palisades  were  soon  planted,  and  two  or  three  of  the 
towers  and  the  northwest  bastion  commenced,  but  the  alarm  having 
measurably  passed  over,  they  progressed  very  slowly,  and  were  soon 
abandoned  in  an  unfinished  state. 

(207) 


208  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

mark  out  on  the  same  a  line,  to  include  within  its 
limits  all  the  houses  then  in  the  villa^^e,  upon  which 
to  put  up  a  stockade  of  posts  and  erect  a  few  stone 
towers  at  suitaljle  points  on  the  line,  and  this  was 
the  origin  of  the  so-called  fortifications  of  St.  Louis. 


dubreiul's  auction  sale. 

Louis  Duhreiul,  having  gone  down  to  New  Orleans 
to  remain  during  the  winter  of  1780-81,  concluded  to 
sell  a  portion  of  his  household  effects  he  had  left  in 
St.  Louis.  For  this  purpose  he  appointed  his  friend 
and  connection,  Charles  Sanguinet,  and  sent  him 
authority  to  do  so. 

"The  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty,  the  23r(l 
day  of  the  month  of  December,  we  Don  Francisco  Cruzat,  Lieut. 
Colonel  of  the  Louisiana  Regiment,  Comraandant-in-Chief  and 
Lieut. -Governor  of  the  western  part  of  the  Illinois,  at  the  request 
of  Charles  Sanguinet,  merchant  of  this  place,  in  the  name  of,  and 
authorized  by  Louis  Dubreiul,  absent  at  New  Orleans,  which  re- 
quested our  attendance  at  his  house,  to  proceed  to  a  sale  by 
auction,  of  the  cast  off  effects  of  Mr.  Louis  Dubreiul,  where  the 
public  being  assembled,  it  was  proclaimed  to  them  that  the  pur- 
chasers will  pay  the  price  sold  at,  in  deer  skins  or  beaver,  at  the 
current  rate  at  this  post,  or  in  money,  in  the  course  of  the  raontli 
of  May  next,  in  giving  good  security  resident  in  this  place,  and 
then  proceeded  as  follows :  — 

Livret.  Sols.  Purchaser.  104  10 

A  cradle,  2  pans 5       Horttiz.  .Several  books  of  liis- 

Ropes,  knives,  &c.,&c  16  10  Taillon.  tory 12  10  Keynal. 

A  turreen,  8  pans S       Deraers.  Pitclier,    pots,     box, 

A     do.     8  small  pans  8       Coussot.  corks Ifi       Hortliz. 

5  spoons,  3   plates,  2  12  table  knives 2S       Same. 

pans 2       Sanguinet.        Castors, !)  flagons 30       Blanco. 


LAFLEUK  ET  ALS,  VS.  CHAS.  GKATIOT. 


209 


Pots,  rods,  4  lbs.  balls 

2  earthen  pots 

Pitcher  of  grease  and 

vinegar 

A.  large  iron  oven 

A  amnl*  do 

A  cburn,  7  sickles,  2 

scythes 

Hamnior,        pincers, 

draw  knife 

2  |>ick8,  iron  &  bolt... 
1  pick,  hoe,  boat-hook 
20  carots  of  tobacco. . . 
1  demijohn,  1  pitcher 

grease 

H  small  shirts,  traders 

3  boxes 

1  box  old  iron 

2  gridirons,  fork,  tri- 
pod, Ac 

1  mattock, Slbs 

1       do.       41bs 


10       Horttiz. 
5  10  Sanguln't. 

20  Blanco. 
58  Tardif. 
25       Horttiz. 

20       Chevall'r. 

15       Sanguin't. 

fl  10  Blanco. 

2  10  Same. 
37       Same. 

19  10  Cheval'r. 
39       Sang't. 
12  10  Chartran. 
15  10  Guion. 


15 
40 
30 


Sanguin't. 

Taillon. 

Chevallier. 


About      100      empty 

bottles 

12  china  plates 

12         do 

20  carots  tobacco 

20  do.  

20  do.  

26  do.  

12  plates  

5  dishes 

6  goblets,  a  colfee 
cup 

A  funnel,  piercer, 
corks,  &c 

A  scarlet  cloak 

A  pot  of  shooting 
powder 

Locks  and  old  iron. . . 

1  pair  of  oxen 

1  tumbrel 


3<J       Sangui't. 
30  10  Same. 
30       Blanco. 

Bclkcmicr. 

Blanco. 

Chancel'r. 

Horttiz. 

26  10  Reynal. 

27  Horttiz. 


40 
30 
41 
43 


14       Blanco. 


10 
40 


Sangui't. 
Reynal. 


61       Kenaud. 
12       Demers. 
399  10  Guyon. 
40        Horttiz. 


Livres 1360  10 


Up 404  10 


"And  after  tramping  around  until  6  o'clock  p.  ra. ,  finding  nothing 
more  to  sell,  we  closed  tlie  auction,  amounting  to  1360  livres  and 
10  sols  in  skins  or  money,  to  be  paid  at  the  time  above  mentioned 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Sanguinet,  and  signed  the  same  the  day  and 
year  above. 

Diego  Blanco,       )  -.y.,  Demeus,  Constable. 


Chas.  Sanguinet,  j 


Labusciere,  Notary. 


LAFLEUR   ET   ALS.  VS.  ClIAS.    GRATIOT. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  March, 
1780,  Mr.  Chas.  Gratiot,  then  a  resident  of  Cahokia, 
sent  up  a  barge  with  provisions  and  stores  to  Prairie 
du  Chien,  with  a  Hcense  from  the  American  authori- 
ties. Cols.  John  Todd  and  George  R.  Clark,  and 


210  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

also  from  Govr.  Dc  Leyba,  of  the  Spanish  side,  to 
be  disposed  of  to  the  people  of  that  place.  The 
boat  was  in  charge  of  Jno.  B.  Cardinal  as  master 
and  pilot,  with  a  crew  of  five  hands. 

AVhen  arrived  at  Turkey  River,  ten  leagues  below 
the  Prairie,  then  still  held  by  the  British  authorities, 
they  were  surprised  by  a  party  of  British  and  In- 
dians, who  captured  the  boat  and  cargo,  and  took 
their  prisoners  to  Mackinaw,  from  which  place  Car- 
dinal after  a  time,  for  his  defiant  language,  was  sent 
in  irons  to  Montreal  for  trial. 

After  having  made  their  escape"  from  Mackinac, 
after  an  imprisonment  of  a  year,  and  their  return  to 
St.  Louis,  three  of  these  hands,  Peter  Lafleur,  John 
Marie  Durand,  and  Francis  Chevallier,  presented  a 
petition  to  Governor  Cruzat,  July  9,  1781,  in  which 
they  allege  that  "  they  applied  to  Mr.  Gratiot  for 
the  wages  due  them,  as.hands  on  his  boat  130  livres, — 
$26  each,  —  which  he  declined  to  pay  them,  say- 
ing '  he  had  not  expected  to  pay  them  after  the 
loss  of  his  boat  and  cargo,  until  he  was  himself  rec- 
ompensed for  his  heavy  loss; '  "  they  therefore  pe- 
tition the  governor  to  compel  Mr.  Gratiot  to  pay 
them  the  Avages  they  claim,  plainly  insinuating 
collusion  between  Mr.  Gratiot's  partners  and  the 
captors  of  the  boat. 

Petition  filed  July  9,  1781,  and  copy  furnished  to 


LAFLEUU  ET  ALS.  VS.  CHA8.  GKATIOT.  211 

Mr.  Gratiot,  who  in  his  reply  to  the  same,  July  12, 
says  : — 

"  Ist.  True,  as  stated  by  his  accusers,  that  being  detained  by 
pressing  matters  in  Illinois  he  sent  under  the  charge  of  his  em- 
ploye and  pilot,  Jno.  B.  Cardinal,  his  Boat  loaded  with  stores  and 
provisions  to  be  disposed  of  either  on  the  voyage  or  at  the  Prairie, 
only  to  traders  or  Indians  with  whom  they  were  engaged  in  trade, 
as  proven  by  the  licenses  granted  l)y  De  Leyba  to  him  and  others 
so  engaged. 

"2nd.  Indignantly  denies  the  insinuations  of  his  accusers  of 
collusion  with  their  English  enemies,  being  then  absolutely  igno- 
rant of  the  declaration  of  war  between  Spain  and  England. 

"  3rd.  Cites  the  atfirmations  of  James  Matthews  and  Louis 
Lamarche,  two  others  of  the  hands  of  his  Boat  who  were  also 
carried  prisoners  to  Mackinac,  in  direct  conflict  with  the  statements 
of  his  three  accusers,  whom  he  denounces  as  base  slanderers,  and 
demands  that  they  be  compelled  to  appear  before  the  governor 
and  prove  their  accusations  or  incur  the  penalty  thereof  —  and 
concluded  his  reply  in  testifying  to  the  integrity  of  Jno.  B.  Car- 
dinal in  the  following  words :  — 

"If  Cardinal,  who  exposed  himself  to  the  most  rigorous  pun- 
ishment from  our  enemies  for  his  attempt  to  divert  the  Indians 
from  coming  to  war  on  us,  if  he  had  any  orders  from  me  to  assist 
the  designs  of  our  enemies,  would  he  have  exhibited  as  much  con- 
stancy and  firmness  in  his  rigorous  confinement?  has  he  not  in 
every  particular  comported  himself  as  a  brave  and  faithful  sub- 
ject of  his  Catholic  Majesty?  could  such  a  man  be  capable  of 
betraying  his  country?  would  he  have  abandoned  his  wife  and 
child  on  this  side  to  become  a  party  in  so  infamous  an  accusation? 
No,  sir.  Charles  Gratiot." 

"  I  certify  that  I  engaged  myself  to  Mr.  Charles  Gratiot,  in 
the  month  of  March  of  the  year  1780,  and  left  the  village  of 
Cahokia  on  a  barge  loaded  with  merchandise  for  Prairie  du  Chieu, 
with  a  license  from  Col.  Montgomery,  then  in  command  at  Kas- 
kaskia  —  came  to  St.  Louis  where  we  remained  two  days,  and 
where  we  took  on  board  a  part  of  the  goods  belonging  to  said 
barge,  with  the  permission  of  Mr.  De  Leyba,  commandant  of  said 


212  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

poat  —  from  there  started  on  our  voyage  under  the  charge  of 
Jno.  Bapt.  Cardinal,  manager  and  pilot  of  said  barge,  and  com- 
pleted our  trip  without  accident  as  far  as  Turkey  River,  ten  leagues 
distant  from  Prairie  du  Chien  ;  but  as  soon  as  we  arrived  at  that 
place,  we  were  surrounded  by  an  army  of  English  and  Indians, 
who  plundered  us  of  the  Boat  and  cargo,  and  unexpectedly  took 
us  prisoners.  From  this  point  we  were  taken  to  Prairie  du  Chien, 
where  we  were  separated  from  each  other.  Shortly  after  our 
arrival  at  this  Post,  not  being  allowed  to  see  or  speak  to  Mr. 
Cardinal,  our  principal,  I  learnt  that  he  had  been  very  badly  mal- 
treated and  put  in  irons  for  having  spoken  to  the  Indians  and  ad- 
vising them  not  to  undertake  the  war  against  the  Illinois  country, 
telling  them  that  the  Spaniards,  the  French  and  the  Americans, 
were  but  as  one,  and  that  they  would  be  in  a  pitialile  condition  if 
they   drew  upon  themselves  the  wrath  of  those  tliree  powers." 

"That  the  said  Mr.  Cardinal  was  sent  with  us  to  Mackinac, 
and  on  his  arrival  there,  and  during  the  time  he  was  detained,  he 
remained  in  irons  up  to  the  time  of  his  departure  for  Montreal, 
where  he  was  sent. 

"  I  further  certify  that  I  have  no  knowledge  whether  Mr.  Mc- 
Crae,  the  former  partner  of  Mr.  Gratiot,  received  the  payment 
for  the  merchandise  of  the  barge,  believing  that  he  would  not 
have  risked  applying  for  payment,  for  fear  of  being  suspected  of 
holding  secret  correspondence  with  the  Spanish  and  Americans, 
as  we  found  a  number  of  charitable  individuals  who  would  have 
endeavored  to  mitigate  the  rigors  of  our  captivity,  but  were  de- 
terred by  the  fear  of  exciting  the  suspicions  of  the  British  Gov- 
ernment to  their  injury.  I  certify  to  the  truth  of  the  present 
certificate.  "  Jas.  A.  Matthews." 

"  St.  Louis,  30th  July,  1781. 

Another  certificate  of  Louis  Laraarche,  also  one  of  the  crew  of 
the  barge,  verl^atim  with  the  above,  concludes  as  follows :  — 

"  I  have  given  my  certificate  under  oath,  and  not  knowing  how 

to  wi'ite,  I  have  put  my  ordinary  mark  to  the  same  iu  presence  of 

witnesses.  Louis  Lamarche. 

' '  His  X  mark. ' ' 
"Cahokia,  Aug.  1,  1781. 

Affirmed  on  oath  before  me.     Jno.  Babt.  La  Cuoix,  Justice. 


LAFLEUR  ET  ALS.  VS.  CHAS.  GRATIOT.       213 

"  Before  me,  Dou  Francis  Cruzat,  Licul. -Governor  of  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Linotot,  ollker  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  undersigned  witnesses, 
appeared  in  person,  Peter  Lufleur,  Jno.  M.  Durand,  and  Francis 
Ciievallier,  residents  of  Cahokia,  who  solicited  mc  to  allow  the 
withdrawal  of  a  petition  dated  June  8,  1781,  which  tliey  had  pre- 
sented to  me  against  Mr.  Charles  Gratiot  —  protesting  that  tiiey 
never  had  any  intention  whatever  of  assailing  the  honor  of  said 
Mr.  Gratiot  in  anything  that  might  have  appeared  in  their  petition, 
it  being  simply  as  they  supposed  for  their  wages  only  ;  and  that 
everything  therein  that  tended  to  asperse  the  reputation  of  the 
said  gentleman  did  not  emanate  from  them,  hut  from  tlie  person 
whom  they  employed  to  prepare  the  said  paper,  who  imposed 
upon  them,  inasmuch  as  neither  of  tliem  can  read,  and  they  would 
be  very  much  perplexed  to  produce  any  proof  of  anything  as- 
serted in  that  paper.  In  testimony  of  which,  not  being  able  to 
write,  each  has  made  his  ordinary  mark,  in  presence  of  the  under- 
signed witnesses  and  of  Mr.  Linctot. 

•'  St.  Louis,  4th  Sept.,  1781. 

"  Cekre, 

"  Fkans.  Cailhol, 

his                                his  his 

"  Peteu  X  Lafleub,  Jno.  M.  x  Duuand,  Francis  x  Chevallier, 

mark                           mark  mark 

"  Peuuai'lt,                    Dubreuil,  S.  de  Cartabona, 

"Godfrey  Linctot,  Franco.  Cruzat," 

"The  undersigned  arbitrators,  I,  Gabriel  Cerre,  for  Chas. 
Gratiot,  and  I,  Francis  Cailhol,  for  the  hands  Lafleur,  Durand 
and  Chevallier,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the  matter  of  the 
wages  they  claim  to  be  due  them  for  a  voyage  they  made  up  the 
Mississippi  with  a  loaded  barge  for  Mr.  Gratiot,  and  which  was 
captured  last  year  by  the  Indians  who  came  and  attacked     *     * 

(2  or  3  lines  here  illegible) 
"our  decision  is  that  said  engages  should  not  lay  claim  to  any 
wages  —  that  if  hereafter  Mr.  Gratiot  should  be  reimbursed  for 
the  loss  of  said  cargo  he  will  be  under  obligations  to  pay  them. 


214  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

♦'  In  testimony  whereof  we  give  the  present,  at  St.  Louis  the 
4th  of  September,  1781. 

"  Cf.kr^  —  Cailhol. 
"In  view  of  the  above  decision  of  the  arlntrators,  the  parties 
will  abide  by  said  decision. 

♦'  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  this  5th  Sept.,  1781. 

"Cruzat." 


CHARLES   GRATIOT 

was  a  resident  of  Cahokia  from  December,  1777, 
until  the  summer  of  1781  —  three  and  one-half  years  — 
dui'ing  which  period  he  was  one  of  the  firm  of  David 
McCrae  &  Co.  of  Cahokia,  McCrae  being  of  Mon- 
treal. 

During  this  period,  Gratiot  being  one  of  the  few 
educated  business  men  of  the  place  and  familiar  with 
both  the  French  and  English  languages,  on  the  sur- 
prise of  the  country  by  Clark  in  1778,  he  soon  became 
on  intimate  terms  with  him  and  all  the  American 
officials,  had  extensive  business  transactions  with 
them,  rendered  them  many  important  sei'vices,  and 
although  not  filling  any  official  position  he  was  so 
prominently  identified  with  the  public  events  of  the 
period,  and  his  influence  in  (jahokia  so  very  great, 
that  his  views  were  usually  consulted  on  })ublic  mat- 
ters of  the  day. 

In  the  summer  of  1781  Mr.  Gratiot  removed  from 
Cahokia  to  St  Louis,  married  his  wife,  and  identified 
himself  with  the  place,  in  which  he  continued  to  live 


CHAULES  GRATIOT.  215 

for  tliirty-Hix  years,  until  his  <lo{»th  in  1817.  One  of 
the  principal  reasonw  which  induced  Mr.  Gratiot  to 
change  his  residence  from  Cahokia  to  St.  Louis,  was 
to  enable  him  to  i)artici|)ate  in  the  trade  of  the 
Missouri  Indians,  from  which  he  was  excluded  by 
the  Spanish  laws  of  the  country  as  they  then  existed. 
In  September,  1781,  Mr.,  (rratiot,  in  closing  up 
the  business  of  McCrae  &  Co.  at  Caliokia  and  Kas- 
kaskia,  having  in  his  possession  a  large  amount  of 
claims  against  the  State  of  Virghiia  for  sui)})lies, 
etc.,  furnished  by  them  and  others  to  Clark  and  his 
successors,  placed  these  claims,  amounting  to  some 
eight  or  nine  thousand  dollars,  in  the  hands  of  one 
Philip  Dejean,  to  collect,  if  possible.  A  list  of  the 
same  was  filed  by  him  in  the  archives  of  St.  Louis 
September  27,  1781,  viz:  — 

"A  note  of  Capt.  James  Ilarrod,  Nov.  13,  1778  8     114 

An  obligation  of  Major  John  Williams,  Nov.  1),  177S       1.440 

With  an  interest  %  upon  tlie  above  —  total  1.802 

A  note  of  Capt.  Dodge,  Sept.  28,  1780  90  2/5 
Anotlier  of    same,    approved     by    Col.    Montgomery, 

Sept.,  1778,  146 
A   bill   of   exchange  on  Treasury  of  Virginia  by  Col. 

Montgomery,  Oct.  18,  1780  5.102  Vs 

Another  on  the  same  by  the  same,  Sept.  28,  1780  321  ^/s 
Bill  of  exchange  by  Col.  Clark  on  Oliver  Pollocli,  at 

New  Orleans,  Nov.  23,  1778  800 

Total       S8,322  2/6 
This  Dejean,  not  succeeding  in  collecting  the  fore- 
going, returned  them  to  ]N[r.  Gratiot. 


21G  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


VILLAGE    LAWS. 

Ill  the  yoar  1782,  the  villa«,^c'  havin<?  been  eiielosed 
by  the  palisadeH  erected  after  the  attack  of  May  26, 
1780,  it  wa«  deemed  expedient  to  adopt  a  more  per- 
fect code  of  hnvft  for  the  government  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  village. 

,  "  Dkckee. 

"The  undersigned,  sindics  nominated  by  the  assembly  of  the 
inhabitants,  whicli  was  held  in  the  government  hall  on  the  22nd 
Sei)teml)er  of  this  year,  1782,  by  Mr.  Don  Francisco  Cruzat, 
lieutenant-colonel  hy  brevet  of  infanteiie,  conimandant-in-chief, 
and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  western  part  and  district  of  Illi- 
nois, for  the  pur[)08e  of  establishing  fixed  and  unalterable  rules 
for  the  construction  and  repair  of  streets,  bridges  and  drains  of 
this  village,  and  vested  with  the  authority  of  the  pul)lic  who 
elected  us  to  that  effect,  have  in  the  said  government  hall,  and  in 
the  presence  of  the  aforesaid  Don  Francis  Cruzat,  on  this  day, 
the  29th  of  the  same  month,  agreed  upon  what  follows,  and  to 
which  every  one  shall  regularly  conform  in  future :  — 

"1.  —  On  the  first  day  in  every  year  an  assembly  of  all  the  in- 
habitants of  this  post  shall  be  held  in  the  government  hall,  and  in 
the  presence  of  the  lieutenant-governor,  in  which  there  shall  be 
nominated  b}-  the  plurality  of  their  votes,  two  sindics,  to  watch 
together  the  repairs  to  streets,  bridges  and  drains  of  this  village, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  cause  the  following  regulations  to  be 
observed  exactly :  — 

"  2.  — The  first  duty  of  the  sindics,  as  soon  after  their  elec- 
tion, must  be  to  examine  by  themselves  the  interior  of  the  village, 
and  to  cause  to  repair,  without  delay,  the  streets,  drains  and 
bridges  by  the  persons  that  are  bound  thereto,  and  whom  we 
shall  indicate  hereafter ;  and  should  any  liody  refuse  to  do  the 
same,  they  shall  have  recourse  to  justice  to  compel  them  to  fulfill 
a  duty  so  indispensable  for  the  public  convenience. 


VILLAGE  LAWS.  217 

"  8.  —  All  the  inhabitants  whose  lots  face  a  street  tlirough 
which  passes  a  rivulet  shall  he  obliged,  to  give  a  current  to  that 
water  to  the  Mississippi  river,  to  make  the  necessary  drains  and 
bridges  ;  to  repair  the  same,  and  put  at  all  times  the  street  prac- 
ticable for  the  circulation  of  public  veliieles. 

"4. — Besides  the  cases  explained  in  tiie  foregoing  articles, 
the  streets  in  general  sliall  be  repaired  and  kept  in  a  proi)er  con- 
ilition  by  the  owners  of  the  lots  fronting  on  them,  it  being  well 
understood  that  their  ncigiibors  opposite  shall  co-operate  therein 
by  equal  portion  should  the  case  require  it. 

"  6.  —  Lastly,  the  bridge  on  the  little  river,  as  well  as  all  roads 
which  are  without  the  village,  shall  be  made  and  kept  in  repairs 
oy  the  public. 

"  Done  and  passed  in  the  government  hall,  and  in  the  presence 
of  the  lieutenant-governor  who  has  signed  with  us  the  same  day 
and  year  as  abf)ve. 

"  Pkuual'i.t,     Buazeau,     Cekr6,     Rene  Kiekceueau. 

his  his 

JosEi'ii  X  Mainvii.le,  JosEi'n  X  Taillon, 

mark  mark 

"  Aug't    Chouteau,      Ciiauvin,      Fuan'co  Ckuzat. 

"  We  the  undersigned,  the  sindics  appointed  by  the  assembly 
of  the  inhabitants  wliicli  was  held  in  the  government  hall  on  the 
22nd  of  the  month  of  September  of  this  year,  1782,  by  Mr.  Fran- 
cisco Cruzat,  lieutenant-colonel  Ijy  brevet  of  infantry,  commander- 
in-chief  and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  western  part  and  district 
of  llUnois,  for  the  purpose  of  estal)lishing  fixed  and  unalterable 
rules  for  the  construction  and  keei)iug  of  the  fences  of  the  com- 
mon of  this  village,  being  vested  with  the  authority  of  the  public 
who  elected  us  to  that  effect,  have  in  the  said  government  hall, 
and  in  presence  of  the  aforesaid  Don  Francisco  Cru;cat,  on  this 
2nth  of  the  same  month,  agreed  upon  what  follows,  and  to  which 
every  one  shall  regularly  conform  hereafter :  — 

"  1st.  — On  the  first  day  of  everj'  year  there  shall  be  publicly 
appointed  in  the  government  hall,  in  the  presence  of  the  lieuten- 
ant-governor, one  sindic,  and  immediately  after  eight  umpires, 
who  shall  make  the  first  inspection  of  the  fences  of  the  common. 


218  AMNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"2d. — The  fences  of  the  said  common  shall  every  year  be 
made  and  perfected  by  the  15th  day  of  April  at  farthest,  and  re- 
ceived the  first  Sunday  after  this  date,  by  the  eight  umpires 
appointed  as  aforesai<l. 

"  3rd.  — The  aforesaid  umpires  shall  not  receive  the  fences  un- 
less they  are  constructed  in  such  a  way  that  cattle  shall  not  be 
able  to  get  out  of  the  common  and  go  into  the  townfield  of  the  in- 
habitants to  injure  them. 

"  4th.  —  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  eight  umpires  to  render 
an  account  of  their  inspection  of  the  enclosure  to  the  slndic,  who 
sliall  immediately  name  eight  other  umpires  for  the  purpose  of 
verifying  the  exactness  or  the  negligence  of  tlie  first  ones,  and 
should  fences  be  found  not  to  be  in  the  condition  requisite  for 
their  reception,  and  the  first  umpires  had  not  reported  them  as 
such  to  the  said  sindic,  each  of  tliem  shall  be  condemned  to  pay 
a  fine  of  ten  livrcs. 

"  5th.  —  When  it  shall  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  sindic  that 
any  fence  is  not  in  the  condition  described  in  the  third  article  of 
these  regulations,  it  shall  l)e  his  duty  to  inform  thereof  the  owner 
of  it,  in  order  that  without  dela}',  he  may  make  suitable  repairs 
thereto ;  and  should  this  latter,  through  cajjrice  or  otherwise  neg- 
lect this  just  duty,  the  sindic  shall  cause  it  to  be  repaired  at  his 
expense. 

"  6th.  — If  the  last  one  that  shall  have  made  the  inspection  of 
the  fences,  had  not  informed  the  sindic  of  the  state  in  which  he 
found  them,  and  that  within  the  interval  of  his  inspection  and 
that  which  is  to  follow,  it  was  found  that  animals  had  got  out 
and  made  some  damage,  he  shall  be  bound  to  i)ay  therefor ;  and 
should  it  happen  that  the  sindic  having  been  informed  of  the  bad 
condition  of  the  fences,  had  neglected  to  advise  the  owners  thereof  i 
then  he  shall  l)e  held  accountable  for  the  damage,  and  obliged 
to  pay  for  it  liimself ;  likev/ise  in  the  case  the  owners  have  been 
warned  by  the  sindic  to  go  and  repair  them,  and  they  had  not 
done  it  immctliately,  they  shall  be  subjected  to  the  same  penalty. 

"  7th.  —  If  during  the  time  that  animals  had  got  out  and  done 
damage  many  fences  were  defective ;  in  order  to  remedy  the  bad 
consequences  that  commonl^'^  result  from  such  facts,  it  is  enacted, 
that  said  damage  shall  be  made  good  by  those  whose  fences  shall 


\ 


VILLAGE  LAWS.  219 

be  defective ;  however,  should  it  happen  in  the  time  between  two 
inspections,  the  fences  having  (in  the  first  inspection)  been  found 
in  good  order  by  the  sindic  or  the  persons  appointed  for  those 
purposes,  that  animals  had  jiassed  through  some  opening  made  by 
unknown  malefactors,  or  tiirough  some  unexpected  event,  then 
the  damage  shall  remain  to  him  who  has  sustained  it. 

"  8th.  — If  animals  let  loose  are  found  in  the  fields  without 
their  owners  having  aided  their  egress  from  the  commons,  they 
shall  not  be  obliged  to  pay  for  their  arrest,  nor  held  responsible 
for  the  damt  ge,  in  case  any  has  been  done. 

"  Dth.  — When  it  shall  be  proven  that  the  keeper  of  the  fence- 
gate,  has  by  his  neglect  or  otherwise,  let  pass  through  it  animals 
of  any  kind,  whatever,  he  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  for  the  damage 
thus  done. 

"  10th.  — So  soon  as  the  fences  are  received,  it  shall  not  1)0 
allowed  to  any  one  to  cross  over  them,  under  penalty  of  a  fine  of 
ten  livres  for  the  first  time,  and  of  twenty-four  for  the  second, 
with  twenty-four  hours  imprisonment  in  the  jail. 

"  11th.  — Malefactors  caught  in  the  act  of  making  breaches  in 
the  fences,  either  to  pass  through  themselves,  or  to  cause  animals  to 
cross  them,  whatever  may  be  their  motive,  shall  be  condemned,  be- 
sides the  damage  done  theretiy,  to  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  livies,  and 
be  imprisoned  15  days  in  the  jail. 

"  12th.  —  It  is  ordered  to  all  who  shall  find  any  person  commit- 
ting the  offense  specified  in  the  preceding  article,  to  give  most 
prompt  information  thereof  to  the  lieutenant-governor,  and  to 
lead  himself  the  offender  to  jail,  if  able  to  arrest  him.  But  if 
any  one  through  a  mistaken  indulgence  or  particular  interest 
Should  not  fulfill  this  duty,  and  it  were  proven  that  he  told  other 
persons  of  his  having  8uri>rised  somebody  in  this  offense,  he  shall 
be  reputed  an  abettor  of  the  crime,  condemned  to  pay  the  same 
fine  and  damage,  and  be  subjected  to  the  same  penalty  above 
mentioned. 

"  13th.  — The  owners  of  fences  shall  be  refjuired  to  stamp 
them  with  their  names  in  full,  under  the  penalty  of  a  fine  of  15 
livres. 

"  14th.  — The  person  who  shall  take  a  horse  tied  in  the  prairie 
to  use  it  without  the  consent   of  the   owner,  shall   be   fined  25 


220  ANNALS  OF  8T,  LOUIS. 

livres,  and  imprisoned  24  hours ;  and  should  any  accident  befall 
the  horse,  he  shall  pay  therefor  according  to  the  appraisement 
which  shall  be  made. 

"  15th.  —  If  horses  or  animals  tied  in  the  prairie,  breaking 
their  ropes,  should  be  taken  in  the  fields,  those  who  take  them 
up  shall  require  five  5  livres  for  each  head,  and  the  owner  of  the 
land  upon  wliich  they  are  arrested,  shall  require  the  payment  of 
the  damages  to  be  valued  by  umpires. 

"  16th.  —  When  it  shall  be  proven  that  any  person  has  taken 
away  the  rope  of  an  animal  tied  in  the  prairie,  he  shall  pay  ten 
livres  for  it,  besides  the  damages  caused  tl'^reby  according  to  the 
appraisement  thereof  by  umpires. 

"  17th.  —  It  is  forbidden  to  any  person  to  tie  horses  or  other  ani- 
mals upon  the  land  of  another  person,  without  his  special  consent; 
should  it  be  otherwise,  the  owner  of  ;;he  land  may  seize  the  ani- 
mals and  require  from  those  to  whom  tliey  belong  five  livres  per 
head,  and  it  shall  be  lawful  for  him  to  claim  the  damage  in  case 
any  had  been  done. 

"  18th.  —  When  slaves  shall  be  found  to  transgress  any  of  the 
foregoing  articles,  their  masters  shall  pay  the  fines,  arrests  and 
damages  prescribed,  and  the  above  said  slaves  shall  be  punished 
by  whipping,  according  to  the  gravity  of  the  case. 

"  19th.  — All  the  fines  shall  be  deposited  with  the  sindic  ap- 
pointed by  the  lieutenant-governor  from  the  two  that  are  to  be 
nominated  yearly  for  the  police  and  keeping  of  the  village,  and 
they  shall  revert  to  the  public  works  of  the  community. 

"  Done  and  passed  in  the  government  hall  in  the  presence  of 
the  aforesaid  lieutenant-governor,  who  has  signed  with  us  the  same 
day  and  year  as  above. 

"  Perbault,        Ceuu^,        Rene  Kiercereaux,      Brazeau, 
mark  of  mark  of 

Mr.  Joseph  x  Tayon.  Mr.  Joseph  x  Mainville. 

Chauvin,         Aug'te  Chouteau,        Fran'co  Cruzat. 


CHARLES  GRATIOT.  221 

CHARLES   GRATIOT. 

Daiing  the  progress  of  the  xVmerican  revolution, 
the  country,  as  all  well  know,  had  become  flooded 
with  continental  scrip  which  had  so  depreciated  as 
to  be  almost  worthless,  and  of  which  Mr.  Gratiot 
possessed  a  large  amount,  which  as  an  enthusiastic 
American  he  had  cheerfully  accepted  from  the  Ameri- 
can officers  in  Illinois,  having  unbounded  confidence 
in  its  ultimate  redemption.  After  some  unsuccess- 
ful endeavors  to  collect  a  portion  of  his  claims 
through  the  agency  of  others,  Mr.  Gratiot,  in  the 
the  spring  of  1783,  hostilities  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  having  ceased,  and  negotia- 
tions for  peace  then  pending,  thinking  he  might  realize 
at  least  a  portion  of  his  claims  on  Virginia  if  he 
presented  them  in  person,  set  out  on  horseback,  the 
only  mode  of  locomotion  at  that  day  in  the  wild  west, 
and  after  a  journey  of  1,500  miles  through  the  al- 
most trackless  wilds  of  Illinois,  Kentucky  and  West 
Virginia,  arrived  in  safety  at  Richmond,  the  then 
new  capital  of  Virginia,  being  the  first  actual 
resident  of  St.  Louis  that  ever  up  to  that  time  had 
made  the  journey. 

After  an  absence  of  over  a  vear,  in  which  he  made 
the  personal  acquaintance  of  Patrick  Henry,  Thos. 
Jefferson   and   other  Revolutionary  worthies  of  the 


222  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

day,  he  got  homo  to  St.  Louis  late  in  June,  1784,  un- 
successful, however,  in  the  object  for  which  he  under- 
took his  long  and  hazardous  journey,  the  exchequers 
of  the  United  States  and  Virginia  being  then  ex- 
hausted. 

I  append  here  the  action  of  the  Virginia  authorities 
on  two  or  three  of  his  claims,  found  among  his  papers, 
as  curious  documents,  exhibiting  the  spirit  of  the 
times : — 

"  Fort  Patrick  Henry,  in  the  Illinois,  lltli  Aug.,  1779. 
"  Exchange  405  2/3  Dolls.,  No.  151. 

"  On  sight  of  this  my  first  of  exchange  (tlie  second  of  the 
same  tenor  and  date  not  paid),  please  pay  Mr.  Joseph  Anderson, 
or  order,  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  five  dollars  and  two-thirds, 
it  being  his  pay  for  going  express  from  Kaskaskias  to  Kentucky, 
and  for  sundry  articles  lost,  provisions  furnished  for  himself  and 
comrade  as  per  account  to  me  rendered,  with  or  without  advice 
from,  sir, 

' '  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
"  To  the  Treasurer  of  Virginia.  Wm.  Shannon, 

Comdr. -General,  etc. 

INDORSED. 

August  12th,  1779. 
"  Received  of  Capt.   Helm,  the  amount  of  the  within  bills  in 
cash  on  behalf  of  the  State. 

"  Joseph  Anderson." 

"  I  do  assign  the  within  to  Mr.  Josh.  Andrews;  it  being  for 

value  received. 

"  Leonard  Helm.  " 

"  I  do  assign  the  within  to  Pierre  Mallet,  June  10,  1780. 

"  Joseph  Andr^." 

"  I  do  assign  the  within  to  Charles  Gratiot,  June  10,  1780. 


(( 


Pierre  Mallet. 


CHARLES  GRATIOT.  223 

"  On  this  clay,  being  the  tenth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eightj'-three,  I  John  Beckle}', 
mayor  of  the  city  of  Richmond,  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Vir- 
ginia (there  being  no  notary-  public  in  said  Commonwealth),  at 
the  request  of  Charles  Gratiot  aforesaid,  diil  exhiljit  the  original 
of  which  the  above  bill  of  exchange  is  a  true  copy,  to  the  treas- 
urer aforesaid,  on  whom  the  same  is  drawn,  and  demanded  pay- 
ment thereof ;  whereunto  tlie  said  treasurer  gave  for  answer  that 
he  would  only  pay  twenty  pounds  *  for  the  same,  which  was  re- 
fused by  the  said  Charles  Gratiot. 

"  Tlierefore,  I  the  said  Mayor,  do  hereby  at  the  request  of 
Charles  Gratiot  aforesaid,  solemnly  protest  against  the  drawer  of 
said  bill,  and  against  all  other  persons  concerned,  for  all  change, 
exchange,  reexchange,  costs,  interest  and  damages  suffered  and 
to  be  suffered  for  want  of  payment  of  the  said  bill.  This  done 
and  protested  in  the  said  city  of  Richmond  on  the  da}',  month  and 
year  aforesaid.  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  caused  the  seal  of 
said  city  of  Richmond  to  be  hereunto  affixed. 

"  John  Becki.ey,  Mayor." 


"  Received  of  Joseph  Andre  twelve  bottles  taffla,  at  different 
times,  for  the  use  of  friendly  Indians,  two  bushels  of  corn,  one 
hog.     Fort  Patrick  Henry,  May  20,   1780. 

"  Val'e  Tiios.  Dalton,  Dep.  Indian  Agent." 

THE  STATE  OF  VIIIGINIA. 

"  12  bottles  taffla   20  dollars,     240 

2  bushels  corn 10 

1  hog 30    280  dollars." 

INDORSATIONS. 

"  I  assign  the  within  to  Pierre  Mallet,  June  10th,  1780. 

"  Joseph  Andre." 

"  I  assign  the  within  to  Charles  Gratiot,  June  10,  1780. 

"  Pierre  Mallet." 


♦  20  pounds  Virginia  currency  $66.67. 


224  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  On  this  clay,  being  the  tenth  clay  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  I,  Jolui 
Beckley,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Richmond,  in  the  Commonwealth 
of  Virginia  (there  being  no  notary  public  in  said  Commonwealth 
of  Virginia),  at  tlie  request  of  Charles  Gratiot,  aforesaid,  did 
exhibit  the  original  of  which  the  above  certificate  is  a  true  copy, 
to  the  auditors  of  public  accounts  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Virginia,  who  by  the  laws  of  the  said  Commonwealth  are  author- 
ized to  liquidate  and  pay  all  claims  and  demands  whatsoever 
against  the  said  Commonwealth,  and  demanded  payment  of  the 
same,  whereunto  tlie  said  auditors  gave  for  answer  that  they  would 
only  pay  seventeen  pounds  ten  shillings  for  the  same,  which 
was  refused  by  the  said  Charles  Gratiot.  Therefore,  I,  the  said 
Mayor,  do  hereby,  at  the  request  aforesaid,  solemnly  protest 
against  the  drawer  of  the  said  certificate  and  against  all  other 
persons  concerned,  for  all  change,  exchange,  re-exchange,  cost, 
interest  and  damages  suffered  and  to  be  suffered  for  want  payment 
of  the  said  certificate. 

"This  done  and  protested  in  the  City  of  Richmond  the  day, 
month  and  year  aforesaid.  In  testimony  whereof  I  liave  caused 
the  seal  of  the  said  City  of  Richmond  to  be  hereunto  aflSxed. 

"  John  Beckley,  Mayor." 


' '  The  State  of  Virginia,  Dr.  to  Joseph  Andre.     Provisions  found 
four  Delaware  chiefs  four  days,  two  dollars  each,   thirty-two 
dollars,  being  in  council  at  St.  Vincents,  April  5,  1780. 
I  do  certify  the  above  to  be  true. 

"  Val'e  Thos.  Dalton,  Dep.  I.  A. 
"  Indorsations  :  — 
"  I  assign  the  within  to  Pierre  Mallet,  June  10,  1780. 

"Joseph  Andr^. 

"  I  assign  the  within  to  Charles  Gratiot,  June  10,  1780. 

"  Pierre  Mallet." 

"  On  this  day,  being  the  tenth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  I,  John 
Beckley,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Richmond,  in  the  Commonwealth 


FLOOD  OF  1784.  225 

of  Virginia  (there  being  no  notary  public  in  said  Commonwealth), 
at  the  request  of  Charles  Gratiot,  aforesaid,  did  exhibit  the 
original,  of  which  the  above  certificate  is  a  true  copj',  to  the 
auditors  of  public  accounts  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia, 
who,  by  the  laws  of  the  said  Commonwealth,  are  authorized  to 
liquidate  and  pay  all  claims  and  demands  whatsoever  against  the 
said  Commonwealth,  and  demanded  payment  of  the  same,  where- 
unto  the  said  auditors  gave  for  answer  that  they  would  only  pay 
three  pounds  for  the  same,  which  was  refused  by  the  said  Charles 
Gratiot.  Therefore,  I,  the  said  Mayor,  do  hereby,  at  the  request 
of  the  aforesaid,  solemnly  protest  against  the  drawer  of  the  said 
certificate  and  against  all  other  persons  concerned,  for  all  change, 
exchange,  re-exchange,  costs,  interests  and  damages  suffered  and 
to  be  suffered  for  want  of  payment  of  tiie  said  certificate.  Thus 
done  and  protested  in  the  said  City  of  Richmond,  the  day,  month 
and  year  aforesaid.  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  caused  the  seal 
of  the  said  City  of  Richmond  to  be  thereunto  affixed. 

"John  Becklet,  Mayor." 


During  his  stay  at  Richmond  Mr.  Gratiot  effected 
an  arrangement  with  the  Virginia  authorities  respect- 
ing aportion  of  his  claims,  for  which  they  agreed  to 
give  him  lands  in  Kentucky  so  soon  as  land  offices  were 
established  and  lands  surveyed,  but  I  believe  he 
never  realized  anything  from  them. 


1784.  —  The  annual  floods  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  Rivers  usually  occur  at  different  periods  in 
the  spring  of  the  year,  that  from  the  Missouri  the 
earliest.  In  the  early  summer  of  1784  they  occurred 
at  the  same  time.  The  combined  waters  of  the  two 
rivers  caused  a  destructive  inundation  at  all  points 
below  their  junction.     As  this  was  the  first  occur- 

15 


226  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

rence  of  this  nature  noticed  in  the  experience  of  our 
earliest  settlers,  it  became  a  noted  epoch  in  its  annals, 
and  the  year  1784  was  always  from  that  period  desig- 
nated by  the  French  inhabitants  "  I'ann^e  des  grands 
eaux,"  the  year  of  the  great  waters. 

The  original  village  of  Ste.  Genevieve  on  the  flat 
near  the  river,  a  couple  of  miles  below  the  present 
one,  was  swept  away  entirely,  the  present  town  of 
Ste.  Genevieve  dating  from  the  year  1785.  By 
marks  kept  at  Ste.  Genevieve  and  Kaskaskia  the 
flood  of  1844  rose  some  four  feet  above  that  of  1785. 


Nicholas  Francis   Guion,   a   blacksmith,  had  his 

shop  on  the  north  half  of  block  No.  14  in  1769,  and 

kept  it   there  for  a  number  of   years,  the  farthest 

house  at  the  north  end  of  the  village.     He  died  up 

the  Mississippi  River  in  1784.     The  inventory  of  his 

estate  was  taken  by  Governor  Cruzat  on  December  4, 

1784,  at  the  house  of  his  friend  and  neighbor,  Jno. 

Bap.  Ortes,  the  carpenter,  viz  :  — 

Personal  effects  459  livres. 

Magdalena,  31  years,  an  Indian  Slave  600 
Alexis,  10      "  do. 


K 


Joseph,  4  or  5      " 
Amable,         2      "  do. 

A  trunk  with  a  plated  cross, 
A  receipt  of  Joseph  Viez  for 


'! 


400 

150 

80 

5 

100 

Total  livres  1794, 

Emilien  Yosti, 

Joseph  Mainville,    V  Appraisers. 

Luke  Marly,  )  Francisco  Cruzat. 

He  had  disposed  of  his  house,  which  is  not  on  record. 


SUIT  AGAINST  ISABEL  BISSETTE  VACHARD.  227 

"  Marie  Cardinal,  the  widow  of  Jean  M.  Cardinal,  murdered 
by  the  British  Indians,  May  26th,  1780,  having  a  family  of  seven 
children,  petitions  your  Excellency  for  an  inventory  of  the  prop- 
erty of  her  deceased  husband's  estate,  to  enable  her  to  dispose  of 
the  same,  &c.,"  viz. :  — 


Valuation  personal  effects 
A  pair  of  oxen 

510  livres. 
.500      " 

A  cow 

200 

n 

A  horse 

150 

n 

A  mare  and  colt 

300 

Total  1660. 

By  Louis  POTIER  &          )  ^,,„^„;,g-., 

Nicholas  Hkbert,  ]  ^IWai^ers. 
Aug.  2,  1784. 

Approved, 

Fkan'co  Cruzat, 

1784.  —  Action  against  Isabel  Bissette  Vachard,  wife  of  Louis 
Vachard  dit  Lardoise,  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  complaint  of  Datchu- 
rut,  Jno.  B.  Valle   and   Louis  Bolduc  of  St.  Genevieve,  made 
Dec'r  11,  1783  to  Don  Silvio  Francisco  de  Cartabona   Lieut,  and 
acting  judge  at  St.  Genevieve,  for  a  violation  of  the  laws,  in  this, 
in  bringing  in  her  boat  from  St.  Louis  to  the  salt  works  of  Dat- 
churut  &  Valle,  near  St.  Genevieve,  articles  of  clothing  and  dry 
goods,  which  she  traded  off  to  slaves  and  others,  for  salt,  corn, 
meal,  grain,  &c.,  to  the  manifest  injury  of  these  parties,  in  caus- 
ing the  slaves  to  steal  from  their  owners,  and  in  some  instances  to 
run  off  to  avoid  punishment. 
Dec.  11,  1783.  Affidavit  of  Jno.  B.  Racine,  taken  before  Car- 
tabona in  St.  Genevieve. 
"      12.  do.  of  Alexis  Griffard,  the  boss  at  the  Salt 

Works,  do.,  establishing  the  facts  set  out 
in  the  declaration  of  tlie  plaintiffs. 
"  18  &  19.  Affidavits  of  parties  in  St.  Lonis,  confirming 
the  above.  Her  boat  and  cargo  were  seized  and  confiscated, 
and  sold  at  public  sale  at  St.  Louis,  and  the  proceeds  held  by  the 
governor,  awaiting  the  issue  of  the  suit,  as  to  the  claims  of  parties 
in  St.  Louis  (ladies),  who  owned  a  part  of  the  goods. 


228  ANNALS  OP  8T.  LOUIS. 

"  1784,  March  24.  The  prosecutors  at  St.  Genevieve  above 
naraetl,  considering  her  ignorance  of  tlie  laws,  the  standing  of  her- 
self, relatives  and  connections  in  St.  Louis,  relinquished  their  claims 
on  her  for  indenanity  for  their  losses,  requiring  her  to  pay  all  costs 
of  the  suit,  and  refund  the  amounts  some  of  them  had  expended 
in  the  prosecution. 

"  Gov.  Cruzat  presented  his  general  account  of  costs,  &c. : 
March  23.  Amount  realized  from  the 

sale  1095  reals  of  ]2^c.  136. 87§ 


u         u 

Paid    Demers,    constable, 

services  at  sale 

21  reals. 

2.62^ 

April  4. 

' '      costs  at  St.  Genevieve 

papers,  &c.,  &c. 

85 

<t 

10.62J 

"  19. 

"      to     Charles    Valid 
exps.  to  &  from  St. 

Louis 

272 

(1 

34. 

May  3. 

"      affidavits,  papers,  (fee. 

&c.  at  St.  Louis 

185 
563 

ti 

23. 12  J 

"    3. 

Balance    returned    to 
Isabella  Bissette 

532 

I" 

70.37J 


66.50 


1785.  —  A  Joseph  Verdon,  a  cabinet  maker  and 
turner,  had  married  Yietoire  RicheUt,  widow  of  a 
Jean  Soye,  at  Point  Coupee,  Louisiana,  about  the 
year  1773.  They  came  up  to  St.  Louis,  and  ))oth 
being  industrious  and  frugal  they  prospered  in  the 
world,  and  in  1783  bought  a  lot  with  a  small  house 
on  the  east  side  Main,  below  our  present  Myrtle 
Street ;  but  notwithstanding  their  thrift,  it  appears 
that  their  tempers  not  being  congenial  they  kept 


A  VOLUNTARY  SEPARATION.  229 

matters  pretty  lively  at  homo  with  continual  bicrker- 
ings  and  quarrels  for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  dui-ing 
which  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  when 
they  held  a  council  of  war  and  decided  that  "  for  the 
salvation  of  their  souls"  they  had  better  live  apart 
the  balance  of  their  days ;  and  as  divorces  were  not 
countenanced  in  the  Catholic  church,  they  repaired 
to  the  governor's  office  and  there  entered  into  the 
following  agreement :  — 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  English  translation  in 
the  archives :  — 

"  In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-five,  the 
seventh  of  the  month  of  March,  before  noon,  before  me,  Francis 
Cruzat,  commander  and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  western  part 
of  Illinois,  personally  appeared  Joseph  Verdon,  an  inhabitant  of 
this  post,  and  Marianne  Richelet  his  wif(%  who  declare  that  after 
twelve  years  of  marriage,  not  being  able  to  sympathize  together, 
and  wishing  to  put  an  end  to  their  disagreements,  have  unani- 
mously resolved  of  their  own  free  will  to  contract  by  these  pres- 
ents an  act  of  separation,  hoping  by  this  means  to  ensure  the 
safety  of  their  souls  which  each  appears  to  desire,  not  being  able 
to  do  so  on  account  of  their  continual  quarrels  in  their  conjugal 
state ;  for  these  reasons  they  have  consented,  covenanted  and 
agreed  between  themselves  that  Marianne  Richelet,  wife  of  the 
said  Joseph  Verdon,  her  heirs  or  legal  representatives,  shall  re- 
main in  peaceable  possession  and  hold  all  the  goods,  real  and  per- 
sonal, which  they  this  day  own,  and  which  they  jointly  acquired 
during  their  marriage ;  the  said  Verdon  being  bound  not  to 
trouble  her  nor  make  any  demand  for  a  division,  withdrawing 
only  the  following  articles,  viz. :  his  gun,  bed,  clothes,  two  axes, 
and  all  implements  of  turner  and  cabinet  maker,  these  being 
indispensably  necessary  to  him.  And  the  said  Marianne  Richelet 
binds  herself  from  this  day  to  pay  all  the  debts  they  may  have 


230  ANNAL8  OF  ST.  L0UI8. 

contracted  while  living  together,  and  should  there  be  any  here- 
after unknown  to  her,  they  will  be  on  account  of  the  said  Verdon 
individually.  Kach  renouncing  all  the  rights  and  goods  which 
may  accrue  to  them  individually,  they  cannot  compel  each  the 
other  to  furnish  any  pecuniary  assistance  for  the  future,  and  as 
the  said  Richelet  by  these  presents  finds  herself  in  possession  of 
all  the  property,  the  said  Verdon  will  be  entirely  released,  and 
without  being  lield  to  any  examination,  from  the  dower  which  he 
acknowledged  in  the  marriage  by  and  before  Don  Balthazar  de 
Villiers,  commander  at  the  time  at  Pointe  Coup6e. 

"  As  regards  the  children,  the  issue  of  said  marriage,  they 
being  four  in  number,  two  male  and  two  female,  the  parties  have 
agreed  that  they  shall  remain  under  the  care  and  charge  of  the 
said  Richelet,  their  mother,  who  binds  herself  to  take  charge  of 
them,  and  raise  them  in  honor  and  in  the  fear  of  God. 

"  Thus  it  has  been  covenanted  and  agreed  in  the  government 
hall  in  St.  Louis,  in  Illinois,  the  same  day  and  year  as  above,  in 
presence  of  Mariano  Izaguire  and  Josef  Bermeo,  attending  wit- 
nesses, the  parties  declaring  they  knew  not  how  to  write. 

her  his 

♦'  Marianne  x  Richelet,     Joseph  x  Verdon,  Josef  Bermeo, 
mark.  mark. 

"  Mariano  Izaguire.  Francisco  Cruzat." 

After  the  abdication  of  old  Joe  Yerdon,  and  he 
had  retired  to  the  privacy  of  his  turner  and  cabinet 
shop,  his  better  half,  who  had  always  bossed  the  con- 
cern, although  uneducated,  yet  was  a  strong-minded 
and  self-willed  woman,  learnt  to  scratch  her  name  in 
regal  style,  "La  Verdun,"  and  made  an  occasional 
trading  voyage  by  boat  to  Ste.  Genevieve  and  Kas- 
kaskia  with  merchandise,  and  bringing  back  in  return 
salt  and  other  products,  by  which  she  acquired  a  snug 
little  sum.     She  died  in  1796,  having  named  in  her 


MRS.  ANIT  CA.MP.  231 

will  Auguste  Chouteau  for  her  executor,  who  settled 
her  estate  in  1707,  dividing  it  between  her  sons  and 
daughters.  Her  second  daughter,  Victou-e,  was 
married  to  Joseph  Charleville,  from  whom  there  are 
many  descendants  now  living.  Old  Joseph  V.  died 
in  1813,  his  age  said  to  be  ninety-five  years. 


1786.  —  This  yeai*  brought  to  St.  Louis  the  first 
Episcopalian  family  that  settled  in  the  place,  that 
of  the  Rev.  Ichabod  Camp.  He  was  a  clergyman, 
bom  in  Connecticut  in  1726,  went  to  England  ex- 
pressly to  be  ordained,  which  could  only  be  done  by 
a  bishop,  and  there  was  none  at  that  early  day  in 
America.  He  was  made  a  priest  in  March,  1752,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-six,  by  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  at 
Westminster,  London,  and  on  his  return  home  to 
America  officiated  for  nine  years  in  his  native  State. 

In  1761  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Lunenberg 
County,  Virginia,  and  the  next  year,  1762,  to  Am- 
herst County,  where  he  had  a  very  extensive  parish 
and  where  he  lived  for  eighteen  years.  In  1779  he 
left  Virginia  with  several  other  families  coming  out 
west,  and  settled  in  Kaskaskia  May  1st  of  that  year. 
In  this  place  his  third  daughter,  Catherine,  was  mar- 
ried to  Jno.  B.  Guion,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  in 
1785. 


232  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

This  Guion,  a  passionate  man  and  inclined  to 
drink,  treated  her  so  unkindly  that  she  left  his  house 
and  sought  shelter  at  her  father's.  This  incensed 
Guion,  and  one  night  while  somewhat  in  liquor  he 
went  there  to  force  her  away,  and  while  the  old 
gentleman  stood  at  the  door  remonstrating  with  his 
son-in-law,  Guion  drew  his  pistol,  while  crazy  with 
passion,  and  shot  him.  He  died  immediately,  April 
20. J  1786,  and  was  buiied  in  Kaskaskia. 

A  short  time  before  this  sad  affair  Stella  Camp, 
the  secoiid  daughter,  had  married  Antoine  Reilhe,  an 
European  French  gentleman  of  St.  Louis,  and  with 
them  Mrs.  Camp  and  her  three  other  daughters  re- 
moved over  to  this  place,  arriving  here  May  15, 1786. 

Guion  does  not  appear  to  have  been  prosecuted  for 
this  murder,  but  died  soon  after  this  occurrence. 


Gov.  Cruzat  met  with  several  severe  family  afflic- 
tions during  his  residence  in  St.  Louis  in  the  loss  of 
his  wife  and  three  children. 

First,  a  son,  Francis  Xavier,  on  Sept.  22,  1775. 

Second,  a  daughter,  Josette,  Oct.  12,  1784,  aged 
four  years. 

Third,  another  daughter,  young,  Feb.  1,  1786. 

Fourth,  and  greatest,  his  wife,  April  15,  1786. 

The  record  of  her  interment  is  found  in  the  parish 
church  register  as  follows :  — 


KILLING  OF  BATISTE.  233 

"  April  15,  1786,  under  the  first  bench  of  the  ramn  aisle,  against 
the  balustrade  along  side  of  the  sacristie,  I  have  interred  the  body 
of  Madame  Nicanora  Ramos,  consort  of  Don  Francisco  Cruzat, 
lieutenant-colonel,  captain  of  grenadiers,  and  commandant  of  the 
Illinois,  with  the  sacraments  of  our  holy  mother  Church. 

"  Father  Beunakd,  Curate." 


Accidental  killing  of  Mrs.  Chonteau's  negro  man, 
Batiste,  on  the  evening  of  Dec.  27,  1785. 
Doctor  Reynal's  inquest  on  the  body :  — 

"  I,  Antoine  Reynal,  surgeon,  residing  in  this  post  of  St.  Louis, 
in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  Governor  Cruzat,  went  on  the  27th 
December,  1785,  after  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  to  the  Barn 
lot  of  Mrs.  Chouteau,  on  the  hill  in  rear  of  this  village.  There 
we  found  a  negro  lying  dead  on  his  back,  on  the  ground  in  front 
of  the  door  of  tlie  barn,  head  to  the  east,  feet  west.  He  had  been 
killed  by  a  ball  from  a  gun,  which  had  gone  through  his  body  and 
lungs,  from  one  side  to  the  other,  which  must  have  caused  his 
immediate  death. 

"Dec.  28,  1785. 

"  Reynal,  Surgeon. 

"  To  Governor  Francisco  Cruzat,  Sir: 

Marie  Therese,  widow  Chouteau,  takes  the  liberty  of  in- 
forming you,  sir,  that  on  the  evening  of  tlie  27th,  at  about  8 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  her  negro  man  Baptiste  discovered  the 
runaway  Indian  slaves,  who  liad  fled  from  the  village  some  time 
ago,  on  the  hill  of  Barns  in  rear  of  the  village.  He  spoke  to 
them,  and  by  some  pretext  kept  them  there  until  he  came  and 
apprised  Mr.  Papin,  whose  slave  was  one  of  tliem,  and  that  no 
time  was  to  be  lost,  if  he  desired  to  catcli  liim,  and  told  him  where 
they  were.  Mr.  Papin,  without  giving  him  time  to  run  and  get 
permission  from  his  mistress,  gave  him  a  bottle  of  rum,  and  sent 
him  back  to  the  place  he  left,  and  by  giving  them  drink  to  try  to 
detain  them  until  he,  Papin,  could  get  the  assistance  necessary  to 
come  and  arrest  them.  He  got  togethei  a  few  without  loss  of 
time;  and  arrived  on  the  ground  but  a  very  short  time  after  the 


234  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

negro  Batiste.  I  do  not  know  if  the  slaves  made  f.ny  movement 
to  escape,  but  in  a  moment  several  gun  shots  were;  fired  by  Mr. 
Papin's  party,  which  unfortunately  killed  the  negrr  of  your  peti- 
tioner. 

"  As  Mr.  Papin  acted  so  very  hastily  and  inconsiderately  in 
in  this  matter,  not  appearing  to  reflect  on  the  danger  to  which  he 
exposed  my  negro  man  between  his  party  and  the  runaways,  and 
was  the  occasion  of  his  death,  in  sending  him  on  his  dangerous 
expedition  without  my  knowledge  or  permission,  I  ask  your  au- 
thority that  I  be  paid  for  his  loss.  His  services  were  invaluable 
to  me,  sir;  his  good  qualities,  ability,  his  attachment  to  the 
family,  the  care  he  continually  took  of  my  interests,  not  onl}'  in 
his  own  work,  but  overlooking  the  others,  so  that  I  could  safely 
trust  him  with  the  management  of  all  my  slaves,  in  the  flower  of 
his  age,  no  money  can  remunerate  me  for  his  loss.  And  as  my 
demand  is  based  on  the  laws,  which  forbid  the  employment  of  a 
slave  unless  with  the .  knowledge  and  consent  of  the  owner, 
you  will  compel  the  said  Papin  to  pa}'  me  the  sum  of  $1,000 
dollars,  which,  considering  his  great  value  to  me,  will  be  but  small 
remuneration  for  my  loss. 

"Dec.  29,  1785. 

"  Vecv3  Chouteau." 

Joseph  M.  Papin,  in  his  reply  to  the  foregoing, 
addressed  to  the  governor,  January  5,  1786,  gives  a 
long  history  of  the  affair,  filling  six  pages  of  large 
fools-cap  closely  written.  I  give  a  condensation. 
He  says : — 

"  ^  His  mother-in-law's  negro  man,'  was  killed  in  a  contest 
sanctioned  by  the  authorities,  and  supported  with  zeal  by  the 
soldiers  and  militia,  occasioned  by  the  unexpected  appearance  of 
two  runaway  slaves,  and  then  claims  from  him  remuneration  as  be- 
ing the  author  of  the  affair,"  and  then  goes  on  to  give  his  version 
as  follows:  "  Eight  free  Indians,  former  slaves,  deserted  from 
this  post  after  robbing  their  former  masters  of  horses,  guns,  blank- 
ets and  ammunition,  taking  with  them  several  negro  slaves,  and 


KILLING  OF  BATISTE.  235 

from  appearances  setting  on  fire  two  or  tliree  places,  witli  a  view 
of  destroying  the  village.  After  a  month's  absence,  pillaging  an 
American  and  his  wife  on  the  waters  of  the  Meramec,  and 
others,  subjects  of  the  King,  and  murdering  another  in  that  sec- 
tion, four  of  them  left  the  others  in  their  place  of  concealment, 
and  came  near  our  village  to  try  and  persuade  some  female  slaves 
to  abscond  with  them.  Two  of  these  went  to  the  village  of  the 
^^  little  hills"  (St.  Charles),  where  the  people  having  received 
some  intimation  of  their  visit,  one  was  captured,  the  other,  how- 
ever escaped.  The  prisoner,  brought  here  and  questioned  by  the 
governor  stated  that  they  were  to  sHp  into  the  village,  favored 
by  the  darkness,  and  come  to  my  lot.  Being  present  at  this 
avowal,  I  received  orders  to  go  to  my  house  and  take  the  nec- 
essary steps  and  precautions  to  capture  these  assassins  by  the  as- 
sistance of  such  of  my  circumjacent  neighbors  as  I  might  select, 
and  place  them  under  my  command  at  such  points  on  my  lot  as 
to  ensure  their  capture.  Hardly  had  I  executed  this  order  when 
my  mother-in-law's  negro  arrived  in  hot  haste,  to  apprise  me 
'  that  two  of  the  runaway  slaves  were  at  his  mistress'  barn,  that 
he  had  come  for  a  bottle  of  rum  to  keep  them  there  while  I  took 
the  measures  necessary  to  cut  off  their  retreat  and  capture  them.* 
Not  relying  solely  on  my  own  judgment  in  the  matter,  and  always 
ready  to  be  guided  by  superior  knowledge,  I  availed  myself  of 
the  brief  interval  to  send  word  to  the  governor  of  what  had  tran- 
spii'ed.  I  sent  my  brother-in-law  Labbadie,  who  seconded  me  in 
these  operations,  to  inform  our  lieutenant-governor  of  the  steps 
I  had  taken,  and  for  reinforcements,  to  run  less  risks,  and  by 
our  n  mbers  compel  them  to  surrender.  This  he  did,  he  imme- 
diately sent  from  his  company  two  detachments,  one  around  the 
fort  by  a  passage  through  which  the  slaves  might  have  escaped, 
the  other  near  to  me,  to  act  in  concert  with  me.  As  time  pressed 
I  lost  not  a  moment.  After  instructing  all  not  to  fire  unless  in 
defense  of  his  own  person,  I  diviled  my  band  of  soldiers  and 
militia  into  two  equal  parts,  each  to  take  a  separate  road  so  as  to 
surround  easily  the  spot  where  the  criminals  were.  Reaching  the 
place  of  the  combat,  after  repeating  the  injunction  not  to  fire,  I 
sprung  into  the  quarry  with  a  brave  militiaman  who  would  follow 
me,  when  we  were  immediately  assaulted,  not  only  by  our  enemies 


236  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

in  front,  but  by  a  general  discharge  of  gun  shots  on  both  sides 
by  our  own  people. 

"  Preserved,  both  of  us,  by  a  Providence  who  watched  over  our 
days,  it  was  only  the  unfortunate  negro  who  received  his  death  by 
a  chance  ball,  without  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  the  glorious 
end  of  the  action. 

"  After  having  exposed  myself  to  the  greatest  danger  for  a 
matter  of  public  concern,  acting  only  by  express  orders,  would 
it  be  just  that  the  whole  burden  should  fall  on  me,  and  that  I 
should  be  compelled  to  pay  for  the  negro  who  volunteered  himself, 
and  when  I  had  a  right  to  command,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Jos.  M.  Papin." 

Inquiry  —  In  this  village  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  this  ninth  day 
of  January,  1786,  in  view  of  the  petition  presented  by  Dona 
Maria  Teresa,  widow  of  Mr.  Chouteau,  demanding  payment  from 
J.  Marie  Pai)in  for  a  negro  named  Baptista  who  was  killed  at  the 
time  of  the  apprehension  of  the  Indian  criminals  now  imprisoned 
in  the  common  jail  of  this  village,  and  the  answer  in  reply  and 
declaration  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Papin  in  his  defense  to  the  petition  of 
said  Mad'e  Chouteau,  and  for  a  clear  understanding  of  the  mat- 
ter, we  have  taken  the  necessary  depositions  of  the  parties  to,  and 
witnesses  of  the  affair,  in  manner  and  form  as  follows,  in  the 
presence  of  Sergeant  Fernando  Lisoro  and  Corporal  Mariano  Iza- 
guire,  assistant  witnesses,  for  the  purpose,  who  with  myself  the 
governor  have  signed  the  same. 

"  Fernando  LisoRK,    Mariano  Izaguire,    Franc'o  Cruzat. 

"  On  the  daj',  month  and  year  as  above,  personally  appeared 
before  me,  the  Lieut.-Governor,  1st.  Pedro  Torrico,  a  soldier  of 
this  garrison,  who  being  duly  sworn,  by  making  the  sign  of  the 
cross  with  his  upraised  right  hand,  in  response  to  questions  pro- 
pounded to  him,  deposed  as  follows,  viz. : 

"  Was  born  in  Belme,  Jaen,  Spain  —  a  Roman  Catholic  —  and  a 
soldier  of  the  Stationary  Regiment  of  Infantry  of  Louisiana,  and 
34  years  of  age.  On  the  day  named.  Deer.  27,  1785,  was  in  the 
Commandant's  house,  when  Mr.  Silvestre  Labbadie  came  to  ask  for 
aid  necessary  to  apprehend  two  fugitive  Indians,  discovered  lurk- 
ing at  the  barn  or  stable  of  Madame  Chouteau  —  in  consequence 


KILLING  OF  BATISTE.  237 

the  Lieut.-Governor  directed  the  deponent  to  go  to  the  soldiers' 
quarters,  and  take  five  men  and  a  corporal  and  hasten  with  them 
to  a  deep  trench  or  hollow  near  the  said  barn  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  said  Indians  and  apprehend  them  if  possible.  Knows 
but  little  of  what  occurred  during  the  capture  of  the  said  Indians, 
being  stationed  in  the  hollow,  only  on  hearing  a  tumult  of  voices 
and  gunsliots  he  and  his  men  flew  immediately  towards  the  spot 
where  they  encountered  them,  bound  and  secured  them,  and 
marched  them  to  the  public  jail  of  the  village,  and  soon  after- 
wards your  deponent  heard  it  said,  that  a  negro  man  had  been 
killed  in  the  tumult.  Does  not  know  who  took  the  Indians  —  in 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  objects  could  hardly  be  distinguished, 
but  it  was  understood  by  Mr.  J.  31.  Papin,  Mr.  Silvestre  Labbadie, 
Mr.  Charles  Tayon,  and  the  soldiers  Juan  Antonio  Dias  and 
Francisco  Bonda.  his 

"  Pedro  x  Tobrico. 
mark. 

"  2nd.  Juan  Antonio  Dias,  soldier,  sworn  in  like  manner,  de- 
posed : 

"  Was  born  in  the  town  of  Lugo,  GaUicia,  Spain,  Roman  Catho- 
lic, age  24  years.  On  the  day  cited,  at  seven  o'clock  at  night,  was 
named  by  first  Sergeant  Fernando  Lisore  to  aid  in  apprehending 
two  Indians  discovered  furtively'  secreted  in  the  barn  or  stable  of 
Mad'e  Chouteau  by  the  orders  of  Don  Silvestre  Labbadie.  Issu- 
ing from  our  quarters  with  said  Don  Silvestre  Labbadie,  he  con- 
ducted us  to  the  house  of  Don  J.  M.  Papin,  wliere  the  deponeirL 
witli  Francisco  Bende,  Don  J.  M.  Papin,  Don  Silvestre  Labbadie, 
Don  Carlos  Tayon,  a  servant  and  the  negro  Baptiste,  were  detached 
by  the  direct  street  to  said  barn  or  stable  of  Mad'e  Chouteau, 
and  the  soldiers  Joachin  de  Roxas  and  Phe.  Menzedes  with  two 
militia  men  not  known  to  your  deponent,  b}'  another  route,  so  that 
all  being  near  the  said  barn,  one  party  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
other  party  on  the  other  side  to  prevent  their  escape,  and  reached 
the  place  in  this  order:  Baptiste  entered  the  barn,  followed  imme- 
diately by  Don  Carlos  Tayon  with  liis  gun  levelled  and  fired,  but  no 
one  issued  at  the  shot,  and  immediately  there  jumped  into  the 
barn  Don  Silves.  Labbadie,  J.  M.  Papin,  and  the  other  Frenchman, 


238  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

discharging  their  firelocks  at  same  time,  and  at  the  same  instant 
one  of  the  Indians  darted  out  to  escape,  an<l  the  soldier  IMenzedes 
discharged  his  gun  at  liim,  and  the  deponent  and  his  companion 
took  him  prisoner.  The  deponent  close  to  the  others  in  the  opera- 
tion unilerstood  it  said  in  Charles  Tayon's  stable,  tliat  the  shot 
was  fired  by  Mr.  Papin  involuntarily.  The  deponent  heard  a  shot, 
not  knowing  who  fired  it,  as  the  said  Tayon  crept  towards  the  In- 
dian with  the  intention  of  seizing  him  by  the  hair.  The  deponent 
with  Francis  Bende  bound  iiim  securely.  Soon  afterwards  a  sol- 
dier came  who  stated  that  the  negro  had  just  expired  from  the 
shot  received  at  the  encounter  at  the  stable.  The  affair  termi- 
nated by  conducting  the  prisoners  to  the  public  jail  of  the  village 
where  they  were  incarcerated,  and  have  nothing  further  to  add. 

his 
Juan  Antoine  x  Dias. 
mark. 

"3rd.  Francis  Bende,  soldier,  sworn  in  like  manner  deposes: 
"  Was  born  in  the  village  of  Ginamar,  Grand  Canary  Isle,  aged 
28  years ;  his  testimony  in  substance  same  as  Dias,  but  more 
brief ;  assisted  in  capturing  the  two  Indians  and  in  conducting 
them  to  prison  and  only  learnt  of  the  death  of  the  negro  on  his 
return  to  quarters. 

"  4th.  Phe.  Menzedes,  soldier,  sworn  as  the  others,  was  born  at 
Abulo,  Isle  of  Gomana,  Canaries,  a  Catholic,  and  thirty  years  of 
age:  — 

"  On  the  day  designated,  was  ordered  by  Sergeant  Lisoro  at  7 
o'clock,  p.  m.,  with  three  other  soldiers  to  assist  in  apprehending 
the  runaway  Indians.  Marched  from  their  quarters,  conducted 
by  Mr.  Labbadie  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Papin.  Word  being  given 
in  a  loud  voice,  heard  by  all,  that  the  time  had  amved,  we  sallied 
out  from  Mr.  Papin's,  divided  by  our  corporal  into  two  parties,  one 
party  to  go  direct  to  the  barn,  and  the  other,  raj'^self  and  comrade, 
Rosas,  with  two  militia  men,  whose  names  I  did  not  know,  to  take 
the  road  that  led  to  the  back  part  to  prevent  their  escape  that 
way,  and  be  there  at  the  same  moment.  Having  just  made  that 
disposition,  he  heard  a  discharge  of  fire-arms  from  the  opposite 


KILLING  OP  BATISTE.  239 

party  without  knowing  the  cause,  immediately  after  the  discharge, 
one  of  the  Indians,  endeavoring  to  escape  close  by  us,  we  seized 
him,  put  him  in  the  barn  and  then,  having  captured  the  other, 
bound  them  and  conducted  them  to  the  village  jail.  Is  ignorant 
of  Mr.  Papin's  instructions  to  the  negro  when  he  gave  him  the 
brandy,  and  knows  nothing  of  the  killing  of  the  negro  by  some  of 
the  other  party,  only  learnt  after  their  return  to  quarters  that  the 
negro  had  been  killed. 

his 
"  Phe.  X  Menzedes. 
mark. 

"  5th.  Joachim  de  Rosas,  soldier,  sworn  in  like  manner,  born  at 
Tagonana,  Isle  of  Teneriffe,  Roman  Catholic,  thirty  years  of  age. 
Testified  in  substance  as  the  preceding,  but  a  little  more  at  length, 
and  only  learnt  of  the  negro's  death  after  their  return  to  quarters. 

his 

"JoAcniM  X  DE  Rosas. 

mark. 

"6th.  Mr.  Silvester  Labbadie,  duly  sworn,  testified:  — 
"Am  a  native  of  Vlgonia,  in  France,  a  Roman  Catholic,  mar- 
ried, and  a  merchant.  On  the  aforesaid  day  solicited  aid  from  the 
Lieut. -Governor  to  more  surely  apprehend  the  runaway  Indians. 
A  corporal  and  ten  men  were  detailed  for  the  purpose,  instructed 
to  proceed  at  once  to  the  duty.  Having  started  with  four  -^f  the 
soldiers  went  direct  to  the  house  of  Jos.  M.  Papin,  where  the 
negro,  Baptiste,  of  Mrs.  Chouteau  came  and  notified  us  that  it  was 
now  time.  The  deponent  set  out  at  once  from  the  house  with  his 
company  divided  into  two  portions,  one  through  the  lane  leading 
direct  to  said  barn,  the  other  for  the  back  part  so  that  none  might 
escape.  Being  prepared,  Mr.  Papin  and  Mr.  Tayon  advanced 
together  with  the  deponent  and  a  servant  man  of  said  Papin  and 
entered  the  barn.  The  Indians,  perceiving  this,  sprang  up,  and 
one  not  able  to  gain  his  gun,  tried  to  defend  himself  by  blows, 
in  the  interval  the  deponent,  by  the  light  of  a  flash  from  the  prim- 
ing of  a  gun,  was  able  to  see,  without  knowing  by  whom  the  shot 
was  fired,  in  a  moment  after  a  discharge   of  fire-arms  took  place, 


240  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

ignorant  by  whom  they  were  fired,  the  deponent  liad  no  otlier 
weapon  witli  wliicli  to  defend  liiraself  tlian  a  sword.  In  tliis  dis- 
charge the  negro,  Baptiste,  was  sliot  dead  and  one  of  the  Indians 
wounded.  They  were  immediately  bound  and  conducted  and  de- 
posited in  the  prison  of  the  village.  Saw  the  negro  lying  dead  at 
the  door  of  the  liarn.     Does  not    know  who  killed  him,  nor  who 

first  discovered  him. 

Silvester  Labbadie. 

"  7th.    Charles Tayon,  duly  sworn,  testified: — 

"  Born  at  Fort  Chartres,  eastern  part  of  the  Illinois,  is  26  years 
of  age,  married,  a  farmer,  and  Second  Lieut,  of  the  militia  of  the 
Post. 

•'  On  the  day  named  Mr.  J.  M.  Papin  came  to  my  house,  with  the 
commandant's  orders  and  auxilliaries,  to  apprehend  an  Indian 
fugitive  who  had  appeared  at  the  Barn  of  Madame  Chouteau. 
Mr.  Papin 's  negro  man  having  notified  us  that  the  time  had  arrived, 
we  at  once  set  out  on  the  march  in  two  parties,  to  be  on  opposite 
sides  at  the  ground,  so  that  neither  could  escape.  The  deponent 
anticipating  formidable  and  violent  resistance,  offered  to  IMr. 
Papin  to  go  with  his  servant  man  and  a  soldier  stealthily  in  the 
darkness,  and  suddenly  spring  upon  them  in  the  Barn  before 
they  could  prepare  to  resist.  Thus  accompanied  he  entered  the 
Barn  suddenly,  and  found  iiimself  a  lone  between  the  two  Indians, 
one  of  whom  sprang  out  of  the  door;  in  a  moment's  time  two 
shots  were  fired  from  in  front  of  the  Barn  door  to  stop  him,  which 
killed  the  negro. 

"  The  deponent  cannot  say  with  truth  wno  is  at  fault,  nor  who 
fired  the  two  shots  that  opportunely  prevented  their  escape.  lie 
came  solely  to  assist  in  apprehending  the  Indian  slave  of  Mr. 
Papin,  with  no  power  but  to  aid  Mr.  Papin,  whose  life  would  have 
been  in  danger  from  these  Barbarians,  who  violently  pushing  aside 
the  deponent,  got  out  of  the  door  of  the  Barn,  where  being  metbj' 
Mr.  Labbadie  one  was  thrown  down  and  held  by  him  while  call- 
ing for  help  for  fear  he  would  be  assassinated,  when  in  a 
moment's  time  your  deponent  and  one  of  the  soldiers  jumped 
upon  him,  bound  him,  and  together  brought  him  to  the  public 
prison  of  the  village. 

"  Charles  Tayon.  ' ' 


KILLING  OF  BATISTE.  241 

^^Appraisement.  —  In  the  village  of  St.  Louis,  July  13,  1786, 
before  me,  the  lieutenant-governor,  the  undersigned  selected  to 
carefully  consider  and  correctly  appraise  the  qualities,  intelligence 
and  value  of  Mrs.  Chouteau's  negro  man,  Baptiste,  who  was 
killed  in  the  affair  of  the  capture  of  the  Indian  slaves  discovered 
in  the  barn  of  said  Mrs.  Chouteau,  unanimously  appraise  him  at 
the  value  of  six  hundred  silver  dollars,  as  a  full  compensation  for 
ills  loss. 

"  Ceuue,      DiBUEuiL,     Chas.  Sanguinet. 

"  Decision.  —  In  virtue  of  the  action  had  in  this  suit,  I  pass  it 
over  to  the  Superior  Tribunal  at  the  capital  for  examination  and 
final  decision. 

"Awaiting  this  the  constable  of  the  village  will  notify  the 
parties. 

"  St.  Louis,  Jany.  14,  178C. 

"  Francisco  Cuuzat. 

"  Final  Decree.  —  Considering  the  payment  to  be  made  by  the 
owners  named  in  the  suit  of  the  Indian  runaways  belonging  to 
several  inhabitants  of  the  district  of  St.  Louis,  of  Illinois,  to 
Madame  Chouteau,  for  the  negro  man  named  Baptiste  belonging 
to  her,  who  was  killed  in  the  expedition  to  capture  said  Indian 
runaways,  the  same  is  approved. 

"New  Orleans,  July  31,  178G. 

"  EsTEVAN  MiKO,  Govr.-Genl. 

"  Before  me,  Fernando  Rodriques. 

^^ Assessment. — In  this  village  of  St.  Louis,  of  Illinois,  the 
fourth  day  of  May,  1787,  I,  Francisco  Cruzat,  commandant  and 
lieutenant-governor  of  this  western  part  of  the  district  of  Illinois, 
in  default  of  a  notary,  personally  appeared  before  me  in  the  hall 
of  this  government,  Senors  J.  Marie  Papin,  Silvestre  Labbadie, 
Alexis  Marie,  Antoine  Vincent, Charles  Vallo,  Genevieve  Rouquier, 
widow  of  Louis  Bissonet,  dec'd,  and  Marie  Therese  Bourgeois, 
widow  of  Auguste  Chouteau,  deceased,  all  owners  of  the  Indians 
mt^ntioned  in  the  suit  against  them.  And  the  judgment  against 
th';m  by  Senor  Don  Estevan  Miro,  colonel  of  the  regiment  of 
Louisiana,  and  governor  and  inspector-general  of  this  province 

16 


242  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

of  Louisiana,  with  the  opinion  of  his  legal  counsellor  l)eing  read 
to  them,  to  the  end  tliut  being  informed  of  its  contents,  they  may 
not  plead  ignorance,  but  conform  strictly  thereto,  which  they  have 
acquiesced  in,  and  with  roe,  the  governor,  have  signed  the  same, 
except  tiiose  who  could  not  write,  who  have  signed  with  their 
accustomed  cross,  the  day  and  year  above. 
"J.  M.  Papin,  Sil  Labbadik,    Alexis  Marie,  Antoine  Vincent, 

her  his 

"  Genevieve  x  Rouqi'ier,     Carlos  x   Vall^, 
marl<  marlc 

"  Mauie  Thehese  Chouteau.  Francisco  Cruzat. 

"  Finale  —  I,  Marie  Therese  Bourgeois,  resident  of  this  village, 
and  widow  of  the  deceased  Auguste  Cliouteau,  formerly  of  New 
Orleans,  have  received  of  Senor  Don  Francisco  Cruzat,  command- 
ant and  lieutenant-governor  of  this  western  part  of  the  district 
of  the  Illinois,  the  sum  of  six  hundred  dollars  of  silver,  value  of 
my  negro  named  Baptiste,  who  was  killed  in  tlie  expedition  against 
the  runaway  Indians  who  belonged  to  differennt  iniial)itants  of 
this  village,  being  the  amounts  paid  by  tlie  several  owners  of  these 
runaway  Indians,  in  conformity  to  the  mandate  of  Senor  Don 
Estevan  Miro,  colonel  and  governor-general  of  this  province  of 
Louisiana,  in  his  decree  issued  July  31,  1780,  in  accordance  with 
the  opinion  of  his  legal  counsellor.     St.  Louis,  May  15,  1787. 

Marie  Therese,  vel-ve  Chouteau. 

"Joseph  Bermeo, 

"Mariano  Izaguire,  Witnesses." 

This  affair  was  one  of  absorbing  interest  to  the 
inhabitants  of  our  Uttle  community,  furnishing-  the 
gossips  of  the  day  a  fruitful  topic  to  engage  their  at- 
tention for  the  whole  period  of  16  months  that  the 
affair  was  before  the  public,  from  the  date  of  the 
killing  of  the  negro,  Dec.  27,  1785,  to  its  grand 
Finale  May  15, 1787.     Not  so  much  from  the  death 


SALE  OP  A  HOUSE  IN  MAKSEILLES.  243 

of  the  negro  itself,  for  that  was  a  circumstance  of 
minor  importance  at  that  day,  as  from  tlie  high  Hocial 
position  that  all  concerned  in  it  occnpied  in  the  com- 
munity, being  of  the  "  elite  ^^  of  the  village,  the  three 
most  conspicuous  parties  being  ^^  son-in-laiv,  hrother- 
in-law  and  mother-in-law^''''  a  fact  which  Mr.  Papin 
in  his  elaborate  defense  took  especial  care  to  allude 
to  in  a  somewhat  sarcastic  manner. 

In  its  military  aspect  it  was  a  complete  burlesque 
on  military  stratagem  ;  the  three  commanders,  after 
first  holding  a  council  of  war,  and  deciding  upon  the 
safest  plan  of  capturing  the  enemy  —  two  runaway 
Indian  slaves  —  in  his  stronghold,  Mrs.  Chouteau's 
barn,  backed  by  ten  regular  soldiers  and  some  militia- 
men, divided  into  three  detachments  to  surround  him 
and  prevent  his  escape,  i-ushed  upon  and  captured 
him  with  the  loss  of  but  one  life,  the  poor  negro 
messenger,  who  died,  in  the  expressive  language  of 
Mr.  P.,  "without  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  the 
glorious  end  of  the  action." 

SALE    OF   A   HOUSE   IN   MARSEILLES. 

"  In  this  town  of  St.  Louis  in  Illinois,  the  thirtieth  of  the  month 
of  Jnly,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven, 
in  default  of  a  Notary  public,  before  me,  Don  Francisco  Cruzat, 
commander  and  Lieutenant-Governor  of  this  western  part  and 
district  of  Illinois,  province  of  Louisiana,  and  in  presence  of  the 
undersigned  witnesses,  hereinafter  named,  personally  appeared 
John  Baptist  Ferret,  a  trader  with  the  Indians,  residing  in  this 
post  of  St.  Louis,  who  has  sold,  ceded,  relinquished  and  trans- 


244  ANNAL8  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

ferred,  now  and  forever,  and  in  porpotuity  under  title  of  a  Blmplo 
and  irrevocable  sale  to  Juo.  Joseph  Motard,  wiercliantof  llie  town, 
here  present  and  accepting,  a  four-story  house,  such  as  it  stands, 
situated  in  the  City  of  Marseilles,  in  the  quarter  of  St.  John  on 
the  hari)our,  being  at  the  corner  of  the  street,  Notre  Dame  de  la 
Nativite  (our  lady  of  the  nativity),  bounded  east  by  the  Port, 
south  by  the  house  of  Francis  Ronstant,  north  by  "  Notre  Dame  " 
Street,  and  to  the  west  by  "la  place  St.  Jean"  (St.  John's 
Square),  the  said  house  being  at  present  occupied  by  Jolin  Bap- 
tist Ferret  and  his  wife,  father  and  mother  of  the  vendor,  the  said 
property  having  been  given  to  him  by  the  will  of  Rose,  widow  of 
Antoine  Dominique,  his  maternal  grandmother;  this  house  thus 
sold,  is  released  and  free  of  all  rights,  seignories  and  other  incum- 
brances whatever. 

"The  said  sale  is  made  for  the  consideration  of  the  sum  of  twenty 
thousand  livres,  which  the  vendor  acknowledges  to  have  received 
from  the  purchaser  in  current  money  of  this  place,  for  which  he 
is  released  and  discharged ;  and  in  virtue  thereof  the  said  Ferre- 
has  abandoned  the  said  house  in  favour  of  the  said  Motard,  trans- 
ferring to  him  all  his  rights  of  property  and  possession,  maintain- 
ing it  to  him  against  all  persons ;  and  as  guarantic  for  the  said 
sale,  tlie  said  Feiiet  binds  all  his  goods  actual  and  future,  as  the 
parties  have  agreed.  Done  and  executed  in  my  government,  in 
presence  of  Don  Antoine  Bonnemain,  merchant,  and  Jean  Pierre 
Pourcelly,  master  baker,  in  the  said  place,  who  with  the  parties 
and  myself  the  Lieut. -Governor  above  named  have  signed. 
"  Jno.  B.  Ferket,  J.  Motard,  Bonnemain,  Jean  P.  Pourcellt, 

Franc'o  Cruzat. 


A  fatality  appears  to  have  attended  the  families 
of  our  three  first  Spanish  governors  while  in  the 
place :  — 

Gov.  Piernas,  the  first,  lost  two  children  in  his  five 
years. 

Gov.  Cruzat,  second,  three  children  and  wife. 


WTTT^^i^ 


THE  GOVERNMENT  HOUSE.  245 

Gov.  De  Leyba,  third,  his  wife  and  himself. 

Ill  the  year  1783  the  old  Laclede  mansion,  the  upper 
part  of  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  successive 
governors  as  their  private  residence  and  government 
hall,  from  its  ruinous  condition  being  no  longer  ten- 
antable,  Governor  Cruzat  purchased  from  Jno.  B. 
Martigny  his  stone  house  diagonally  op|)08ite,  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Walnut,  for  his  resi- 
dence and  government  business.  It  was  a  large, 
well-built  house  for  the  times,  40  feet  front  on  Main 
Street  by  25  deep,  and  divided  into  four  rooms. 

This  house  he  occupied  for  the  last  four  years  of 
his  residence  here,  disposing  of  it  to  Augusto  Chou- 
teau when  about  to  leave  the  country  at  the  close  of 
his  administration,  November  27,  1787.  After  which 
it  continued  to  be  occupied  as  the  Govei'iiment  Man- 
sion during  the  remaining  portion  of  the  Spanish 
Domination. 


CAPT.  EMANUEL   PEREZ 

Succeeded  Francisco  Criizat  as  lieutenant-governor 
of  this  upper  part  of  the  province  on  November  27, 
1787,  appointed  by  Governor- General  Miro.  Of  his 
personal  history  we  find  nothing  more  in  our  archives 
than  that  he  was  a  captain  in  the  stationary  regiment 
of  Louisiana  when  appointed,  and  after  his  return  to 
New  Orleans  at  the  close  of  his  governorship  in  1792, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieut. -Col. -Major 
of  New  Orleans  for  his  Majesty.  His  administra- 
tion of  four  years  and  eight  months  was  an  une- 
ventful one  in  our  annals,  furnishing  us  but  little,  if 
anything,  of  sufficient  general  interest  to  require  any 
especial  notice. 

LIEUT.  DE    ORO. 

In  1771,  Lieut.  Antonio  de  Oro  was  ordered  from 
St.  Louis  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  where  and  around  about 
he  was  stationed  for  some  twelve  or  thirteen  years, 
until  he  had  risen  to  the  rank  of  captain.  He  died 
in  August,  1787.  An  inventory  of  his  effects  was 
taken  by  order  of  the  lieutenant-governor,  Perez,  by 
Henry  Peyroux  de  la  Coudrenaire,  commandant  at 
Ste.  Genevieve,  viz. :  — 

A  uniform  coat 925         i  barrel  clay  pipes 8 

Another  do 15       94  lbs.  coffee 46 

(246) 


THE  WILL  OF  MADAME  PEYROUX. 


247 


Another  do.  (old) 4 

2  Satin  breeches 16 

2  Cloth  do 10 

2  Cottonade  do 6 

2  Breeches  &  vests 6 

17  Shirts 40 

2  Breeches,  vest  &  draws..  7 

2  Breeches  &  buckles 3 

2  Blanket  overcoats 2 

Old  coats,  vest  &  breeches  12 

4  Old  cloaks  4  vest 4 

24  yds.  caliraanco 12 

6  ells  of  linen 

5  ells  red  cloth.... 
20  ells  of  satteen. .. 

A  blue  cloth  cap. 

Blankets 

piece  gingham. 


36 
1 


3 

..       10 

16 

2 

..       36 

4 

A  pair  of  pistols 26 

8 
4 
11 
.  35 
6 
2 


A  sword 

pair  sil.  epaulets 

2  sil.  spoons,  3  forks 

Walnut  wardrobe 

A  trunk 

An  old  gun 

31  Razors,   10     knives,     16  T 
pewter  spoons,  32   iron 


60 

60 

2 


400 
100 


60  lbs  sugar 

50  lbs.  Beaver 

43  deer  skins ■  ■  . 

7  Cat,  2  Fox  skins 

A  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart 

A  chaise  and  horse 

A  copper  clock 

Negro    woman,  Theresa, 
20  years 400 

do,  Polagie,  25  years 

House  of  posts,   20x25, 1 
with  lot,  usual  size . . .    / 

A  book  of  account.  No. 

Bundle  of  paper.. . .   ' 

Another  do ' 

Packet  of  letters. ..   ' 
2  certifs.  of  Baptism.. 
5  corns,  from  the  King  ' 

A  note  of  some  one.  ' 

Do  of  John  Dodge..   ' 

Do  of  Lachance ....   ' 

Do  of ' 

Another  for $50 

On  which  paid 21 


1 
2 
3 
4 

6 
7 
8 
9 
20 


25 


175 

100 

6 

50 


11 


forks,  24  wooden  combs,  | 
I  lb.  thread.  J 

140  lbs.  powder  at  60c 

iOO  lbs.       do  25c 

9  muskets,  bad  order 18 

1,000  flints 2 

2  bars  lead 16 

EuoENio  Alvarez  «fe  Mariano 

Pratte,    Friar  Lewis  Ginoes,  Curate.    Dorothy  de  Oro, 

Francis  Leclerc,    Henry  Peyroux  de  la  Coudrenaire. 


Balance $28  75 

Due  by  same 11       39  76 

A    deed   for    negro    wo- 
man  No.  10 

A    receipt    of    Jno.   B. " 
Valle,  with  four  notes 
for  bread, for  the  troops, 
paid No.  12 

61796  75 
Izaquire   witnesses. 


WILL  OF   MAD'e    peyroux,  OF   STE.  GENEVIEVE. 

In  the  town  of  St.  Louis,  May  26,  1788,  before  me,  Manuel 
Perez,  Captain  and  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  establishments 
and  dependencies  of  the  Illinois,  personally  appeared  Dona  Mar- 


248  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

gareta   Susanne  Jouolt,  widow  of  Charles  Pe3'roux,  who  about 
leaving  for  Ste.  Genevieve  dictates  her  will,  as  follows :  — 

First.  She  has  been  married,  and  is  now  the  widow  of  Charles 
Peyroux  deceased,  and  before  she  departed  from  France,  all  the 
property  she  possessed  was  given  to  Henry  M.  Pcjtoux  and  Maria 
Jiianna  Gravila  and  Margarete  Susanne,  her  son  and  daughters,  at 
the  request  of  her  eldest  son,  Pierre  Charles  Peyroux,  as  a  proof 
of  his  fraternal  affection  towards  his  brother  and  sisters.  Besides 
that,  Pierre  Charles  Peyroux,  paid  out  himself,  all  the  expenses 
of  the  voyage  from  Franco  to  this  country,  and  for  the  support  of 
said  Margaret  Suzanne  with  all  the  care  of  a  good  son.  Now  she 
desires  and  instructs  that  all  she  possesses  at  the  present  time  is 
to  be  the  property  of  said  Charles  Peyroux,  so  that  neither  his 
brother  nor  sisters  can  claim  any  part  thereof,  requesting  her  said 
son,  if  she  should  die  to  celebrate  a  service  and  thirty  masses  for 
the  repose  of  her  soul,  and  t )  take  charge  of  her  funeral. 

She  annuls  any  former  wills  she  may  have  made.     Done  at  St. 
Louis  the  day  and  year  above  mentioned  in  presence  of 
Josef  Hortiz,  Jean  Pierre,  Pedro  de  Santos, 
Barrere,  Robidoux,  Bona  Colleli., 

Witnesses, 

M.  S.  Joualt  Peyroux. 
Manuel  Perez. 


KEER    AND    FAjriLT    KILLED    BY    INDIANS. 

All  Englishman  iiauied  Keer,  v.ith  his  family,  who 
had  removed  over  from  the  Illinois  side,  was  living 
on  a  new  place  about  6j  miles  north  of  St.  Louis  on 
the  Bellefontaine  road,  improving  the  place  for  James 
Glamorgan.  In  the  afternoon  of  June  21,  178S,  this 
man  Keer,  his  wife,  a  son  and  two  daughters,  five  in 
all,  were  murdered  by  roving  Indians.  A  son  of  15 
or  16  and  a  daughter  of  two  years  escaped. 


KEER  AND  FAMILY  KTijLED  BY  INDIANS.  249 

The  brief  account  of  it  is  found  in  the  archives. 

Translation. 

"  In  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  on  the  twenty  third  day 
of  the  month  of  June,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight,  I,  Don  Manuel  Perez,  commander  and  Lieut.  Governor 
of  the  western  portion  of  Illinois,  In  consequence  of  the  misfor- 
tune that  occurred  on  the  twenty  first  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
present  month,  on  the  farm  of  Don  Santiago  Glamorgan,  and  on 
the  person  of  Mr.  Keer,  an  Englishman,  who,  himself,  his 
wife,  one  son  and  two  daughters,  were  killed  by  Indians,  and 
who  were  residing  on  said  farm,  having  the  management  thereof : 
one  son  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  old.  and  one  daughter  two  years 
old,  having  escaped.  I  repaired  at  about  4  o'clock  P.  M.  to  the 
dwelling  of  the  said  Santiago  Glamorgan,  a  resident  of  this  Town, 
where  all  the  movables  and  other  effects  belonging  to  the  said  de- 
ceased were  conveyed,  to  take  an  appraised  and  general  Inven- 
tory of  the  whole,  for  which  purpose  I  officially  appointed  Benito 
Basqnez,  Bentura  GoUell  and  Santiago  Ghauvin,  appraisers,  all 
residents  of  this  Town,  and  having  duly  administered  the  oatli  to 
them,  they  proceeded  to  discharge  tlieir  duties  truly  and  faith- 
fully as  such ;  valuing  each  crticle  presented  them,  in  current 
money  of  the  country,  and  the  Inventory  was  commenced  in  the 
presence  of  the  attending  witnesses,  Mariano  Izaguire  and  Joseph 
Hortiz  in  the  following  manner  — 

Livrts 

1  Horse 100  1,218 

2  Cows  and  Calf 300  G  Tin  measures 3 

1  Large  hog 100           1  Tin  Coffee  pot 15 

2  Sows 150            1  Tin  Tea  Pot  &c 15 

9  Woraens'  drepses 150           2  Iron  Candle  sticlcs 2 

2  Gowns 50           1  Side  Saddle 30 

8  Jackets 20           4  Iron  Ovens 150 

1  Pellerine 30           1  Frying  pan 2 

6  yards  blacls  Silk 75  7  Wooden  buckets 7.10 

7  Handkerchiefs 35  1  Pump     15 

5  Caps 1  1  lot  of  Keys 10 

5  Chemises 40  1  Water  bucket 10 

I  piece  of  Cloth 10.10  3  Spades 15 

*  pairs  Stockings 7  2  Axes 15 


250  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

1  Apron 7.10  1  Feather  Bed 40 

2  Pillow  caaea 8  3  Blankets 22.10 

1  looking  glass 5  2  Smoothing  Irons. 10 

4  leather  gloves 6  1  Trunlc 10 

2  pair  Silver  Buckles 35  4  Chairs 26 

3  Snuff-boxep 6  1  Beaver  Hat 10 

lOldFile 1.10  1  Bedstead  frame 5 

2  pair  Shoes 15  1  Plough 40 

a  box  of  pewter  Spoons.. . .  3  1  Spinning  Wheel 50 

a  pewter  dish,  etc 20  1  Gun 20 

6  pewter  Plates 10  1  Cock,  6  Hens,  13  Chicks..  83 

11  cups  and  Saucers,  ware..  80  


6  plates,  ware 7.10  Total 1773 


forward 1218 


SEPARATION   OF   BARRERE   AND    WIFE. 

In  the  year  1775,  there  came  up  to  St.  Louis  from 
New  Orleans  a  Francis  Barrcre,  a  native  of  a  place  in 
France  called  Munde  Marchant ;  a  baker  by  trade,  with 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  just  manied  at  New  Orleans, 
whose  maiden  name  had  been  Maria  Genevieve  Ca- 
toise,  and  at  the  date  of  her  marriage  to  Barrei'e,  was 
the  widow  of  one  William  Paille  with  an  infant  child. 
She  and  her  first  husband  had  commenced  the  world 
with  nothing,  and  at  his  death  they  had  accu- 
mulated the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-one  dol- 
lars, one-half  of  which,  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
tA  dollars,  was  according  to  the  French  marriage 
law  of  community  of  interest,  the  daughter's  share 
of  the  estate.  The  widow's  half,  $225.50,  she  in- 
vested in  her  second  marriage  with  the  above  Bar- 


FRANCIS  BARRERE.  251 

rere,  who  brought  to  the  partnership  his  whole  cap- 
ital of  one  hundred  and  sixty  dolhirs,  so  the  new 
firm  set  out  with  a  joint  capital  of  three  hundred  and 
eighty-five  dollars  and  one-half.  They  were  indus- 
trious and  frugal  and  they  prospered. 

They  were  married  in  New  Orleans,  May  1,  1775, 
their  contract  signed  in  the  presence  of  their 
friends,  Arnold  Magnan,  Nicholas  Tarde  and  Henry 
Roche,  was  certified  to  by  Andres  Aim  on  ester  y 
Rosas,  notary.  They  came  to  St.  Louis  immedi- 
ately after  their  marriage. 

On  January  14,  1776,  they  purchased  the  house 
and  lot  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Third  and  Elm, 
a  quarter  block,  120  by  150  feet,  house  of  posts 
40  by  20,  then  a  large  house,  for  two  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  of  deer  skins  ($100) . 

On  October  23,    1785,   they   also   purchased  the 
house  and  lot,  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Elm, 
55  front  by  150,  with  a  house  of  posts  26  by   21, 
barn,  etc.,  for  $600. 

Notwithstanding  their  worldly  prosperity,  it  seems 
they  were  not  hap[)y,  for  in  less  than  four  years  af- 
ter this  we  find  them  entering  into  the  following  mu- 
tual agreement  to  live  apart : — 

"  In  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  nine,  the 
thirty  first  of  the  month  of  July,  a.  m.,  before  me,  Don  Manuel 
Perez,  Captain  of  the  Regiment  of  Louisiana,  Lieut.  Governor 
and  commander-in-chief  of  the  western  part  of  IIHnois  and  its  dis- 


252  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

tricts  (in  defftult  of  a  notary),  personally  appeared  Frances  Bar- 
r6re,  a  resident  of  the  post,  and  Genevieve  Catoisc,  liis  wife, 
who  by  these  presents  and  of  mutual  accord,  and  of  tlieir  own  free 
will,  and  in  virtue  of  the  proceedings  commenced  on  the  9th  of 
the  present  month,  have  voluntary  consented,  and  do  consent  to 
a  separation  to  the  end  of  their  lives,  and  to  remain  separated, 
one  from  the  other,  being  absolutely  unable  to  reside  together, 
nor  remain  united  on  account  of  tlie  difference  of  their  disimsi- 
tions,  and  reciprocally  desirous  of  avoiding  daily  quarrels,  and 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  their  days  in  peace,  and  to  ])r()cure  the 
salvation  of  their  souls,  wliicli  they  can  n<it  do  peaceably,  living 
together,  in  consequence  of  their  continual  disputes,  and  no 
longer  being  able  to  bear  them  ;  and  in  consequence  of  the  deed  of 
partition,  dated  the  30th  Inst,  not  wisliingto  have  any  recourse  on 
each  other's  property,  now  being  individual  as  well  actual  as  fu- 
ture ;  regarding  each  other  as  strangers,  as  if  no  alliance  had 
ever  taken  place.  The  said  Madame  Genevieve  Catoise  ac- 
knowledging and  confessing  that  she  has  received  by  the  aforesaid 
act  her  dower,  and  the  property  belonging  to  her  daughter,  .is 
also  half  the  goods  of  the  community  with  the  said  Francis  Bar- 
rere,  which  community  the  parties  declare  broken  and  dissolved. 
Therefore  the  said  Genevieve  grants  a  full  and  entire  release  and 
discharge  to  the  said  Barrere  without  any  expectation  of  return. 
"  Done  and  executed  at  the  office  of  the  Government,  in  pres- 
ence of  Bonaventura  CoUcU  and  Manuel  Moro,  attending  wit- 
nesses, and  of  Messrs.  Joseph  Hortiz,  Joseph  Robidou  and 
Gasi)arcl  Roubieu,  who  attended  in  tlie  capacity  of  arbitratois,  as 
well  at  the  Inventory  as  at  the  deed  of  the  partition,  who  have 
signed  with  the  contracting  parties,  and  Lieutenant  Governor  at  St. 
Louis  in  Illinois,  the  same  day  and  yaav  aforesaid. 

"  Francois  Baukeke,  Genevieve  Catoise, 

Jos.  HoRTiz,  Gasparu  Roubieu,         Manuel  Moro, 

Robidou,         Bonaventuka  Collei-l,         Manuel  Perez." 

An  inventory  of  their  propei-ty  and  a  partition  of 
the  same  was  made  by  the  three  gentlemen  above 
named.     The  house  and  lot  on  Third  was  assigned 


JOSEPH   LAI'lEURE.  253 

to  Barrere,  and  the  one  on  Main  Street  to  Mrs.  B., 
all  the  pi'oceedlngH  and  documents  in  the  matter  are 
recorded    in    the    archives. 

Barrere,  who  was  a  man  well  thought  of,  contin- 
ued his  bakery  business  in  the  same  house  until  liis 
death  in  1803,  leaving  his  projjerty  to  his  v/ife's  daugh- 
ter by  her  first  husbimd,  whom  he  had  adopted  as 
his  own,  and  educated  until  she  was  fifteen,  when 
she  married.  Of  the  few  residents  on  Third  Street  at 
that  early  period  of  our  history,  Barrere  being  the 
most  prominent  one,  the  Street  was  frequently  called 
"Rue  Barrere,"  Barrere's  Street. 


ABSCONDING   OF    LAPIEBRE    AND    WIFE. 

On  the  night  of  September  10,  1789,  one  Jno. 
Bapt.  Lapierre,  a  blacksmith,  absconded  from  the  vil- 
lage, and  with  his  wife,  their  clothing,  bedding,  etc., 
crossed  in  the  night  to  the  other  or  American  side 
of  the  river.  This  Lapierre  was  a  great  scamp  and 
bore  a  very  indifferent  reputation  for  veracity  and  in- 
tegrity, as  evidenced  by  his  various  acts. 

At  the  time  of  his  flight  he  lived  in  a  small  house 
of  posts  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Olive. 
This  lot  of  25  feet  at  the  corner,  a  part  of  Alexis 
Picard's  half  block,  which  he  had  located  in  1765 
under  Laclede,  and  upon  which  he  was  then  living, 
had  been  swapped  off  by  Picard  to  Francis  Guion, 


254  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

a  blacksmith,  in  1773,  for  a  cow,  and  Guion  to 
fence  it  in,  and  had  come  into  the  possession  of  this 
LapieiTc,  how,  it  does  not  appear,  as  there  is  no  rec- 
ord from  Guion  to  Lapierre,  however,  he  was  Uv- 
ing  and  had  his  shop  on  this  lot  at  the  time  of  his 
flight. 

To  ilhistrate,  I  append  the  official  proceedings  of 
Governor  Perez  in  the  mattei* : — 

"  This  day  the  twefth  of  the  month  of  September  A.  M.  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  nine  at  tiie  post  of  St.  Louis 
in  Illinois :  Before  me  Don  Manuel  Perez,  Captain  of  the  Regi- 
ment of  Infantry  of  Louisiana,  Lieutenant  Governor  and  com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  western  part  and  District  of  Illinois 
Personally  appeared  at  the  Government  hall,  and  in  the  presence 
of  Don  Benito  Vasquez  and  BonaventuraCoUell,  the  person  named 
Amable  Flamant,  a  mason,  who  declaring  that  while  residing 
at  tlie  house  of  John  Bapt.  Lapierre,  a  blacksmith,  a  resident  of 
the  said  Post,  he  was  much  surprised  and  astonished  on  waking  at 
day  break  to  find  all  the  doors  open,  the  greater  portion  of  the 
furniture  and  beds  carried  away,  and  could  not  find  either  the 
said  Lapierre  nor  his  wife  Marguerite  Dupuis  in  the  house,  de- 
claring also  that  on  the  previous  evening  nor  at  any  other  period 
before  this,  there  was  not  the  least  appearance  of  the  removal  of 
the  said  Lapierre  and  wife,  swearing  also  that  he  had  not  the 
least  notice,  nor  heard  anything  of  their  intended  departure,  nor 
of  the  i'emoval  of  their  effects,  he  being  buried  in  the  most 
profound  sleep  at  the  time  thereof. 

"In  consequence  whereof  I  repaired,  accompanied  by  the 
above  attending  witnesses,  and  said  Flamant  to  the  residence  of 
said  Jno.  B.  Lapierre  and  wife,  to  take  cognizance  of  the  affair 
and  to  make  a  general  and  appraised  Inventory  of  all  the  effects 
movable  and  immovable  abandoned  and  left  by  the  said  Lapierre 
and  his  wife,  and  1  appointed  for  this  purpose  Joseph  Motard 
and  Joseph   Robidou,  appraisers,  who  voluntarily  accepted   the 


CLOSE  OF  PEREZ  ADMIN ISTKATION. 


255 


commission  and  promised  under  oatli  to  value  truly  and  couscien- 
ciously  the  whole,  iind  I  commenced  as  follows :  ' 

A  large  walnut  wardrobe,  without  a  lock 100  livres 

An  old  bureau,  one  drawer  missing,  without  lock  30      " 

An  old  walnut  bed  stead,  straw  bed  and  teaster  10      " 

Eight  old  chairs ...  .  7     10 

An  old  oartliern  pot 2     10 

An  old  kneading  trough .  ...  6 

A  small  walnut  *,able  with  drawer 10 

An  old  walnut  ao 4 

A  small  cupboard  witiiout  key 5 

About  two  minots  of  peas  in  a  barrel 15         190 

A  lot  of  ground  72  12  feet  by  150  with  a  ' 
bouse  of  posts  in  the  ground  35  by  18  feet, 
on  the   main    street  of   the  village,  opposite 
Charles  Simoneau.  north  a  cross  street,  soutli 
Antoine  Vincent,  rear  the  Mississippi.  \  1250 


Joseph  Motakd 
josei'h  robidou 


■\'^ 


)praisers. 


Total 1440  livres. 


Manuel  Pekez. 


1702,  June  29,  —  Perez  preparing  to  leave  St. 
Louis,  sold  his  furniture  at  auction. 

July  23.  —  Archives  mention  a  sale  of  slaves  by 
Aug't  Chouteau  to  Manuel  Perez,  the  account  was 
filed  but  not  recorded. 

Perez  and  Chouteau  had  large  transactions  to- 
gether ;  Chouteau  gave  Perez  a  bond  to  secure  P.  in 


1  This  Jno.  B.  Lapierre  and  wife  being  indebted  to  Charles  Sanguinet 
In  the  sum  of  1750  livres,  had  given  Sanguiuet  a  mortgage  on  the  property 
to  secure  him, 'on  Sept.  10,  1789,  only  two  days  previous  to  their  flight 
from  the  place.    Sauguinet  sold  it  to  Louis  Brazeau. 


256  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  sum  of  $2,625,  dollars,  dated  July  23, 1792,  pay- 
able in  five  years.  Chouteau  bemg  m  New  Orleans 
in  the  winter  of  1795-'96,  anticip"  ^ed  the  payment 
some  18  months,  as  per 

"  Receipt  January  10,  1796,  at  New  Orleans  of  Manual  Perez 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Major  of  New  Orleans,  for  his  majesty,  to 
Aug' st  Chouteau  of  St.  Louis." 

Capt.  Verez  had  been  promoted. 


CAPT.  DON  ZENON  TRUDEAU, 

appointed  by  governor-general,  the  Baron  de 
Carondelet,  entered  upon  his  administration  July 
21,  1792.  He  was  a  Canadian  by  birth  and  a 
well  educated  man  with  a  family  of  several  sons. 
The  two  last  of  the  Spanish  governors  of  this 
Upper  Louisiana,  Trudeau  and  Delassus,  although 
in  the  Spanish  service,  were  Frenchmen  by  birth 
and  their  appointment  was  due  to  some  extent  to 
this  fact,  as  will  be  made  evident. 

After  the  peace  of  1783,  the  American  settle- 
ments in  Kentucky  gradually  extended  west  of  the 
falls  of  the  Ohio  into  the  Green  River  country ,  un- 
til they  had  almost  reached  the  Mississippi  at  the 
close  of  the  century.  The  Kentucky  trade  down  the 
Miss*38ippi  to  New  Orleans  had  likewise  materially 
increased.  In  1787  Col.  Morgan,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, had  commenced  the  establishment  of  New 
Madrid.  The  first  record  of  Americans  becoming 
Spanish  subjects  in  St.  Louis,  we  find  in  the  ar- 
chives of  1782,  after  which  they  increased  in  number 
for  a  few  years,  from  Illinois  and  Kentucky,  until 
towards  the  close  of  the  century,  when  they  amounted 
to  a  goodly  number,  mostly  farmers  settled  on  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Meramec,  Joachim  and  Plattin,  in  the  dis- 

17  (257) 


258  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

trict  between  St.  Louis  and  Ste.  Genevieve.  The 
increase  of  the  Americans  in  the  country  added  to 
the  complications  between  the  Spanish  custom  house 
officials  at  New  Orleans  and  our  western  people, 
growing  out  of  the  violations  of  the  treaty  between 
the  two  nations  for  the  reciprocal  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi,  by  the  exaction  of  illegal  fees  from  our 
people  by  the  Spanish  officers,  and  the  threats  of 
our  people  to  retaliate,  caused  apprehensions  on 
the  part  of  the  Spanish  that  a  inipture  of  peaceful 
relations  might  soon  occur,  and  as  a  matter  of  pre- 
caution they  commenced  the  erection  of  some  new 
worfcj!  of  defense  at  St.  Louis,  and  the  completion 
of  the  unfinished  towers. 

These  were  completed  in  1794  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  Col.  Howard,  who  had  come  up  from  New 
Orleans  some  time  previously  with  a  few  additional 
troops,  which  with  those  previously  here,  w^re 
quartered  in  their  new  barracks  in  the  Fort  on  the 
hill. 

FENCES   OF   STE.    GENEVIEVE. 

"  We,  Don  Zenon  Trudeau,  Captain  in  the  Regiment  of  Louisi- 
ana, and  commandant  in  chief  of  the  western  part  of  the  Illinois, 
in  conformity  to  the  orders  of  Monsieur  the  Baron  of  Carondelet, 
Governor  General  of  this  province,  to  establish  a  beneficial  stabil- 
ity and  assure  to  the  inhabitants  of  Ste.  Genevieve  and  surround- 
ings the  crop  of  corn  during  the  time  that  the  fences  of  the  fields 
should  be  strong  and  open.     We  certify  that  we  repaired  to  said 


2    > 
a    u> 

o 
o 

H 

!  s 

S    H 

bo   n 

8 


I     ' 


LOUIS  CREPEAU,  SALE  OF  HIS  HOUSE.  259 

village  the  seventh  clay  of  the  present  month,  where,  on  our 
arrival,  we  convoked  a  meeting  of  all  the  inhabitants  and  citizens 
of  the  pariah  and  its  dependencies  to  consider  the  must  conven- 
ient method  for  the  advantage  of  all  to  establish  the  fences  of  the 
Fields  and  preserve  the  crops  from  the  depredations  of  animals. 

"All  the  inhabitants  having  expressed  their  views,  it  was  de- 
cided by  the  majority  tliat  it  was  important  to  the  safety  of  the 
crops  that  the  lands  should  be  all  enclosed,  conformably  to  the 
regulations  of  the  present  year,  of  which  a  copy  is  in  the  archives 
of  said  village  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  to  remain  so  the  whole  year, 
excepting  a  certain  interval  of  time,  when  it  is  allowed  to  turn  in 
cattle,  after  the  crops  are  gathered  in,  to  give  tiiem  pasture,  and 
that  only  to  the  time  when  the  Trustee  will  be  required  to  order 
the  execution,  or  shall  himself  so  order,  which  must  be  executed 
without  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  owners  of  animals,  to 
restore  the  said  fields  for  ploughing  and  sewing  anew,  under  the 
guarantee  of  their  same  fences.  This  we  have  (conformably  to 
the  orders  of  the  Governor  General)  agreed  to,  and  ratified,  to  re- 
main permanent,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  and  intentions  of 
the  large  majority  of  the  people  of  said  village.  Wherefore,  we 
order  all  others  to  conform  to  this  regulation  in  its  full  sense, 
which  each  year's  sindic  will  see  duly  enforced,  under  the  penalty 
of  offenders  being  treated  as  refractory  to  good  order  and  gov- 
ernment. 

"  Done  and  agreed  to  at  the  village  o*'  Ste.  Genevieve,  before 
Messrs.  Francois  &  Batiste  Vall6,  the  requisite  witnesses,  who 
with  us  the  commandant  in  chief,  have  signed  the  seventh  d  ay  of 
the  month  of  September,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety- 
three. 

"  Francois  Vall^, 

"J.  Btb.  Vall:^;,  Zescn  Trcdeau." 


SALE    OF   THE   CREPEAU   HOUSE. 

"  To  the  Lieutenant  Governor: 

"  Eugenio  Alvarez,  an  inhabitant  and  resident  of  this  town  of 
St.  Louis  in  Illinois,  with  due  respect  appears  before  you,  and 
says,  that  one  Louis  Crepeau  is  the  owner  of  an  old  and  dilapi- 


260  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

dated  house  on  a  piece  of  ground  in  the  town,  bounded  one  s.kle 
by  the  widow  of  Jacques  Labbe,  on  another  by  the  widow  of 
Lardoise,  on  another  side  by  the  second  principal  street,  and  on 
the  other  by  a  cross  street,  and  the  said  Louis  Crepeau  being 
absent  for  six  or  seven  years,  having  contracted  some  debts,  and 
particularly  a  sum  of  considerable  amount  to  the  petitioner,  and 
desirous  that  the  said  house  should  not  be  entirely  ruined,  no  one 
living  in  it,  to  the  prejudice  of  its  owner  and  of  his  creditors, 
humbly  requests  you  to  order  a  valuation  to  be  made  of  said 
ground  and  house, *  by  sworn  arbiters,  so  that  the  person  named 
Alexander  Grimeau,  the  brother  in  law  of  the  said  Crepeau,  may 
take  possession  thereof  before  it  falls  entirely  to  ruin,  the  said 
Grimeau  remaining  responsible  for  re-imbursing  to  said  Crepeau, 
or  to  his  creditors,  the  full  amount  of  the  valuation.  A  favor  he 
expects  to  receive  from  your  well  known  justice. 

"  EUGENIO   AtVAREZ." 

"  St.  Louis  in  Illinois  March  20,  1794. 

"Petition  granted,  for  which  purpose  I  appoint  Don  Joseph 
Robidou,  Don  Benturu  Collell  and  Don  Gregorio  Sarpy  to  make 
tlie  valuation  of  tbd  house  to-morrow  the  21st  before  me,  and 
the  said  Grimeaa  may  remain  therein,  for  the  price  of  the  ap- 
praisement, for  'vhich  he  will  be  responsible  to  the  said  Crepeau, 
or  to  his  creditors.  Tbudeau." 


SYLVESTER   LABBADIE. 


Silvester  Labbadie  Sr.,  son  of  Dominick  Labadie 
and  Anne  Beclac  was  born  in  Tarbes,  Bearne, 
France —  his  name  is  first  found  in  the  Archives  of 
St.  Louis  in  the  year  1769,  and  in  1773  associated  in 


1  This  lot,  at  the  corner  of  Second  and  Poplar,  was  cut  up  by 
a  deep  gully  through  it,  had  no  enclosure,  and  a  very  old  house 
of  posts,  20  by  16  feet,  was  valued  at  sixty  dollars. 


8YLVFSTER  LA.BBADIE.  261 

business  with  Jos.  M.  Papin.  He  was  married  July 
27,  1776,  to  Pelag-io  the  second  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Marie  Therese  Bourgeois  Chouteau.  After  a  suc- 
cessful business  of  some  20  years,  in  which  he  ac- 
fjuired  a  handsome  compcitency,  he  died  on  June 
19,  1794  —  his  age  is  not  stated. 

HIS   WILL. 

"  In  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  the  eighteenth  day  of 
the  month  of  June,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety  four,  Don  Silvestre  Labbadie,  merchant  in  the  said  town, 
has  declared  that  he  had  made  his  will,  in  the  presence  of  Pedro 
Pedesclaux,  notary  public  in  the  City  of  New  Orleans,  on  the 
twenty  eighth  day  of  May,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety 
one ;  and  that  for  the  satisfactio.i  of  his  conscience  and  that  of 
his  heirs,  he  will  add  as  a  codicil,  what  follows,  to  wit:  That  his 
Majesty  having  allowed  to  Fathers  of  Families  the  right  of  ap- 
pointing such  intelligent  persons  as  they  wish,  for  dividing  tlieir 
estate  and  regulating  their  interests,  the  said  Silvestre  Labbadie, 
using  this  privilege  has  named  Bernard  Pratto,  his  nephew  (son 
inlaw)  and  Auguste  Chouteau  his  cousin  (brother in  law)  to 
make  the  Inventory  and  the  division  of  all  his  property,  accord- 
ing to  the  form  prescribed  in  the  said  will,  and  he  wishes  and 
ordains  that  Pelagic  Chouteau,  executrix,  appointed  in  the  same 
will  for  the  same  purpose,  shall  execute  it  in  what  is  not  con- 
trary to  this  present  codicil,  which  shall  remain  in  force  and 
vigor. 

"  Made  and  executed  in  the  presence  of  Antoine  Reilhe, 
Manuel  Gonzales  Moro,  Benito  Vasquez,  Mathurin  Bouvet,  be- 
fore me  Zenon  Trudeau,  captain  of  the  Regiment  of  Infantry 
stationed  in  Louisiana,  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  commandant 
of  the  western  bank  of  the  Illinois,  in  default  of  a  Notary  in  this 
jurisdiction. 

Don  Silvestre  Labbadie. 

"  M.  BoDVET,   Benito  Vasquez,  Manuel  Gonzales  Moro, 
Ant'e  Reilhe.  "  Zenon  Trudeau. 


2G2  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Silvcstre  Labbadie  died  on  the  next  day,  the  19th 
June. 

When  thii  estate  was  finally  closed  in  November, 
1795,  there  were  five  children  living-,  all  minors,  Sil- 
vestre,  Emily,  Pelagic,  Sophie  and  Marie  Antionette. 
Emily,  the  oldest,  had  been  married  to  Bei-nardPratte 
a  month  before  her  father's  death. 


LOUIS  CIIAUVET  DUBREUIL, 

was  born  at  Rochelle,  Aunis,  in  France,  in  the  year 
1736,  son  of  Rene  Chauvet  Dnbreuil,  attorney  tor 
the  king,  and  Marie  Dagnau.  He  came  to  St. 
Louis  in  17G5,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  and  married 
there  on  September  19,  1772,  Miss  Susanne  Sahi- 
tous,  aged  seventeen,  daughter  of  John  Saintous,  de- 
ceased, and  Subada  Tuyaret. 

Louis  Dnbreuil' 8  will  is  dated  July  15,  1794  ;  he 
died  four  days  afterwards,  on  the  19th,  leaving  to  his 
widow  and  nine  children,  two  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, all  minors  at  his  death,  a  handsome  property  he 
had  acquired  in  his  business.  They  all  lived  to  be- 
come married  men  and  women. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  in  the  lives  of  these  two 
men,  Labbadie  and  Dnbreuil,  that  they  both  came 
from  the  western  part  of  France,  were  friends  and 
near  neighbors  for  over  25  years,  and  died  within  a 
month  of  each  other,  each  leaving  a  large  family  of 
children,  all  minors,  and  all  living  to  become  married. 


OUIOIN  OP  NEW  MADRID.  2G3 


MANUMI88IOX. 

"  This  day  the  2l9t(lay  of  April  1790  before  me  Don  Louis 
Charles  Blanc,  Captain  in  the  Army  of  the  King,  civil  and 
military  commandant  of  the  I'oat  of  Natchitoches  and  depend- 
encies. In  default  of  a  Notary  in  this  place,  was  personally 
present  Mr.  John  Baptist  Grappe,  inliahitant  of  tliis  district,  who 
declares  and  affirms  by  these  presents,  that  he  voluntarily  gives 
freedom  to  his  mulatto  woman  named  Catiche,  aiied  about  twenty 
six  years,  whom  he  purchased  from  Mr.  Louis  Fontenau  of  this 
said  place,  recorded  in  this  olHce  tiie  first  of  this  present  month 
of  April.  This  is  granted  her  so  that  she  may  enjoy  it  without 
any  hindrance,  with  all  the  privileges  granted  to  the  enfranciiised 
for  this  is  the  pleasure  of  the  donor,  wlio  forever  renounces  all 
claims  of  service  upon  said  liberated  slave. 

"  Done  at  said  place  of  Natchitoches  in  presence  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Tauzin  and  Andre  Rambin  witnesses  who  with  said  Jno.  B.  Grappe 
and  myself  the  above  commandant  have  signed  the  same. 

JosKi'H Tauzin,  Andke  Ramuin,  Loiis  Di:Br.ANC. 

Jno.  Bai't.  Gkaitk. 
Don  Louis  Charles  De  Blanc,  Captain  of  Infantry. 


ORIGIX   OF   NEW   MADRID   AXD    FIRST    CENSUS. 

"  New  Madrid,  Dec.  31,  1796. 
*'  To  Mr.  Charles  Dehault  Delassus,  Lieut.  Colonel  admitted  into 

the  Stationary  Regiment  of  Louisiana,  and  Military  and  Civil 

Commandant  of  the  Posts  and  Districts  of  New  Madrid:  — 

"  Sir,  the  Commandant, 

"  Before  handing  j'^ou  the  first  census  of  New  Madrid  under 
your  commandment,  I  have  ventured  upon  a  sketch  upon  the 
origin  of  the  settlement  of  this  Post,  and  tlie  causes  which  have 
retarded  its  growth  and  chiefly  its  cultivation.  If  former  defects 
have  kept  it  until  this  time  in  a  species  of  stupefaction,  your  saga- 
cious views  and  the  zeal  you  exhibit  to  second  the  good  will  of 
Mr.  the  Governor  General  of  this  Province  towards  this  settlement, 


264  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

can  in   n   little   while  efface   the  trutible   it  experienced  in   its 
birth. 

"  I  was  present  Mr.  Commanrtiint  wiien  you  pronounced  with 
effusion  these  words,  wliich  I  wisli  that  all  the  inhabitants  wight 
have  heard  ;  words  which  depicted  ho  frankly  your  kind  intentions, 
and  the  interest  which  Mr.  the  Governor  takes  in  us. 

"'The  Governor,'  said  you,  "is  surprised  at  the  languor  ex- 
hibited by  this  settlement  and  its  little  advance,  he  desires  its 
prosperity.  I  will  rellect  '  upon  its  failure,'  added  you,  '  and 
will  endeavor  to  remedy  it,  I  ask  your  assistance.  If  the  inhabi- 
tants need  encouragement,  if  they  sliind  in  need  of  help,  let  them 
inform  me  of  their  wants,  and  I  will  convey  them  to  the  Gov- 
ernor General.'  This  offer  was  appreciated  by  those  near  you, 
little  accustomed  to  hear  the  like  they  wondered  at  you,  admired 
you,  and  appeared  to  rest  content, 

"Nevertheless,  different  statements  were  spread  amongst  those 
who  heard  you ;  Why  so  long  a  silence  since  your  generous  offer? 
Is  it  distrust  on  their  part?  Is  it  mistrust  of  their  own  misunder- 
standing? Is  it  profound  reflection  to  better  further  your  views? 
or  may  it  not  be  self-interest  that  induces  some  to  remain  silent? 
I  am  ignorant  of  their  motives,  and  limit  myself  to  the  hope  that 
they  will  eventually  break  their  silonce  and  make  known  to  you 
their  salutary  reHections. 

"  If  my  knowledge  equalled  my  desires,  I  would  hasten  with  all 
my  power,  sir,  the  commandant,  to  tender  you  the  homage  of  my 
services,  but  they  fall  too  far  shoit  to  allow  me  to  hope  that  they 
could  be  of  any  utility  to  you.  I  will  confine  myself  solely  to 
communicate  to  you  such  knowledge  as  I  have  acquired,  and  my 
reflections  thereon  since  I  have  been  at  this  Post,  and  may  a  series 
of  these  reflections  assist  in  your  benevolent  heart  some  happy 
idea  that  may  tend  to  the  advantage  and  prosperity  of  this  colony. 

"  Some  traders  in  pursuit  of  gain,  came  to  I'ansea  la  graisse, 
{cove  of  fat  or  grease,)  a  rendezvous  or  gathering  place  of  sev- 
eral Indian  nations,  and  where,  as  we  are  told  by  tradition,  they 
found  abundance  of  game,  and  especially  bears  and  buffaloes* 
hence  the  name  of  I'anse  a  la  graisse.  A  first  year  of  success  in- 
duced them  to  try  a  second,  and  to  this  others.  Some  of  them  de- 
termined to  establish  their  homes  where  they  found  a  sure  trade  and 


ORIGIN  OF  NEW  MADRID.  265 

unlimited  advantages,  dividetl  tliere  among  ttiomselves  the  lands. 
Tiie  l)ayou,  named  since  St.  Jolu),  was  the  rallying  point,  and  the 
land  the  nearest  to  this  then  became  settled,  therefore  we  find  that 
Messrs.  Francis  and  Joseph  Lesiener,  Ambrose  Dumay,  Chatoillicr, 
and  ethers,  dividitl  among  themselves  this  neighborhood  ;  property 
which  Mr.  Foucho,  the  first  commandant  considered  as  sacred, 
and  which  he  di<l  not  disturb.  The  profits  of  the  trade  of  I'anae 
(t  Id  (/rainse  having  been  heard  of  as  far  as  the  Post  Vincennes, 
the  St.  Maries,  the  Ilunots,  the  Racines,  the  Barsaalou's,  &c.,  of 
that  place  accomplished  for  some  years,  very  advantageous  trips, 
they  ccmgratulated  themselves  moreover  tliat  the  Indians  of  I'anse 
(I  la  graisse  (you  might  call  the  fat  of  the  land)  traded  with  them 
amicably,  wliilst  those  of  the  United  States  were  treacherous  to- 
wards them,  and  made  them  averse  to  inhabit  a  Post  where  their 
lives  were  in  constant  danger. 

"  Nevertheless  an  unfortunate  anarchy,  a  singular  disorder,  pre- 
vailed at  I'anse  a  la  graisse;  all  were  masters,  and  would  obey 
none  tliose  of  who  set  themselves  up  as  heads  or  commandants  of 
this  new  colony.  A  murder  was  committed  by  an  inhabitant  on 
another  —  then  their  eyes  were  opened,  tliey  began  to  feel  the  ne- 
cessity of  laws,  and  some  one  at  their  head  to  compel  their  ob- 
servance, they  bound  the  culprit  and  sent  him  to  New  Orleans ; 
everything  tends  to  the  belief  tliat  the  commandants  of  the  Posta 
of  Ste.  Genevieve  and  of  St.  Louis  had  during  these  transactions 
apprised  the  Governor  General  of  what  was  occurring  at  I'ayise  a 
la  graisse;  but  a  new  scene  was  in  preparation. 

"  One  Morgan  having  descended  the  Ohio,  the  first  year  that 
traders  settled  at  Vanse  a  la  graisse,  he  examined  in  passing,  the 
land,  and  found  it  suitable  to  fix  here  a  settlement.  Returning 
to  America  (U.  S.)  he  removed  and  succeeded  in  bringing  down 
to  this  Post  several  families,  he  selected  for  the  village  the  ele- 
vated ground  where  are  at  present  the  habitations  of  Jackson  and 
of  Waters  near  the  Mississippi ;  they  built  some  houses  on  tlie  land  ; 
and  full  of  his  enterprise  and  the  success  he  expected  from  it, 
Morgan  descended  to  New  Orleans  to  obtain,  not  encouragement 
simply  in  his  plans,  but  proprietory  and  honorary  concessions 
beyond  measure,  he  was  baffled  in  his  pretensions,  and  did  not 
again  set  his  foot  in  the  Colony. 


266  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  These  various  occurrences  determined  the  Governor  general 
to  send  a  commandant  tu  tiiis  Post,  and  M.  Fouche  was  selected. 
Men  are  not  Gods,  thcj'  all  possess  in  some  respects  the  weak- 
nesses of  human  nature,  the  predominant  one  of  the  first  com- 
mandant was  self  interest,  and  who  in  his  place  would  not 
have  been  so?  Sent  to  a  desert  in  the  midst  of  savages, 
to  bring  the  laws  of  a  regulated  government  to  new  settlers  as 
barbarous  as  the  Indians  themselves ;  what  recompense  would 
be  have  received  for  neglecting  his  personal  interests?  What  obli- 
gation would  the  new  colony  have  been  under  to  him  ?     None. 

"  Mr.  Foucher  was  the  man  that  was  wanted  for  the  cre- 
ation of  this  colony ;  busying  himself  at  the  same  time  with 
his  own  interests  as  of  those  of  the  inhabitants,  with  his  own 
amusements  as  well  as  theirs,  but  always  after  having  attended 
first  to  his  business,  and  by  a  singular  address  if  he  sometimes 
plucked  the  fowl,  he  not  only  did  it  without  making  it  squall,  but 
set  it  dancing  and  laughing.  M.  Fouche  remained  l)ut  a  verj  short 
time  at  ^h\s  Post,  and  done  a  great  deal ;  in  eighteen  months  he 
divide^':  out  tho  country,  regulated  the  land  necessary  for  the 
village,  and  that  of  the  Inhabitants ;  he  built  an  imposing  fort,  pro- 
mulgated the  laws  of  the  King,  and  made  them  respected,  he  was 
the  father  and  friend  of  all,  lamented,  regretted,  and  demanded 
again  from  the  Governor  General  down,  by  the  unanimous  voice 
of  all  the  inhabitants. 

"  In  all  his  labors  was  Mr.  Fouche  assisted  by  anj'  one?  Had 
he  overseers  at  the  head  of  the  works  he  prescrii)ed  ?  Not  at  all ; 
he  alone  directed  every  thing ;  he  laid  out  the  work,  penetrated 
the  Cypress  Swamps  to  select  the  useful  trees,  he  walked  with  the 
compass  in  hand  to  align  the  streets  and  limit  the  lots,  he  demon- 
strated by  his  example  to  the  perplexed  workmen  how  much  men 
with  but  little  main  strength,  but  with  intelligence  and  dexterit}-, 
can  multiply  the  extent  of  the  same  and  surmount  obstacles.  His 
administration  was  too  brief  to  ascertain  the  good  he  might  have 
done,  had  it  continued  the  ordinary  period,  what  is  certain  is  that 
during  the  18  months  that  he  was  in  command,  there  came  to  New 
Madrid  the  largest  portion  of  families  that  are  still  there,  and  it 
was  he  that  attracted  them  there. 

"  M.  Portell  successor  of  M.  Foucher,  commanded  this  post  du>'- 


OUIGIN  OF  NEW  MADlUD.  267 

ing  five  years,  the  population  did  not  increase  under  his  administra- 
tion and  the  growth  of  agricultural  labour  was  but  slightl}-  percepti- 
ble. M.  Portell  ^  did  not  value  the  inhal)itants  sufficiently  to  do 
them  a  substantial  favour,  nor  did  he  use  the  proper  means  to  im- 
prove the  condition  of  tiie  colony,  he  was  not  a  man  of  the  people, 
and  when  by  chance  uis  interest  required  him  to  assume  the  cliar- 
acter,  he  was  extremely  awkward  in  it,  they  peceived  that  he  could 
not  play  his  part,  and  that  a  residence  at  court  would  have  in- 
finitely better  suited  Iiim  than  one  in  a  new  settlement  mostly  ill- 
composed.  M.  Portell  liad  a  good  heart,  he  was  by  nature  noble 
and  generous,  but  his  mind  was  somewhat  mistrustful  and  suspic- 
ious, and  his  age  placed  him  in  a  position  to  be  influenced  by  his 
surroundings.  I  am  convinced  tliat  if  M.  Portell  had  come  alone 
to  thic  colony,  he  would  have  exhibited  much  less  weakness,  and 
that  his  time  would  liave  been  much  more  taken  up  for  the  public 
good,  tiian  it  had  been.  The  little  progress  made  b\'  the  Col- 
on}^, must  not  hovvever  be  attributed  to  the  apparent  indifference 
which  seemed  to  formtlie  base  of  M.  Portell' s  character,  phj'sical 
and  moral  causes  retarded  its  advancement. 

"  At  the  period  when  M.  Portell  assumed  his  command,  he  found 
tlie  inhabitants  at  this  post  made  up  of  traders,  hunters  and  boat- 
men, trade  was  still  prett}'  fair  for  tlie  first  two  3'ears  of  his  resi- 
dence here,  so  that  nearly  every  one,  high  or  low,  would  meddle 
with  the  trade,  and  not  a  soul  cultivate  the  soil.  It  was  so  con- 
venient with  a  little  powder  and  lead,  some  cloth,  and  a  few  blan- 
kets, which  they  obtained  on  credit  from  the  stores,  to  procure 
themselves  the  meat, grease  and  suet  necessary  for  their  sustenance 
and  pay  off  a  part  of  their  indebtedness  with  some  peltries.  Some 
of  them,  but  a  very  few,  seeded,  equally  well  as  badly,  about  an 
acre  of  corn,  and  they  all  found  time  to  smoke  their  pipes,  and 
give  balls  and  entertainments.  How  often  have  I  heard  them  re- 
gretting those  happy  daj's,  when  they  swam  in  grease,  and  when 
abundance  of  every  description,  was  the  cause  of  waste  and  ex- 


1  M.  Portell,  a  man  of  distinguished  merit,  equalh'  in  the  military  as  in 
the  cabinet,  was  superior  to  his  position,  and  if  he  failed,  it  was  because 
hi3  did  not  place  himself  on  a  level  wtih  the  sort  of  people  he  had  to 
govern. —  P.  A.  L. 


268  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

travagance,  and  the  stores  of  flsh  from  their  drag-nets  gave  them 
whiskey  at  4  or  5  reaux  (bit  of  12  ^)  a  gallon,  and  flour  at 
4  or  5  dollars  a  barrel  maintained  and  kept  up  these  festivals  and 
pleasures,  which  only  came  to  an  end  when  the  purses  were 
exhausted. 

"Mr.  Foucher,  a  young  man,  who  during  his  command  of  the 
Post,  never  neglected  his  work  or  business  f(jr  amusements,  yet, 
found  time  to  be  at  them  all,  and  often  was  tlie  first  to  start  them, 
but  M.  Portell  was  not  so  sociable  in  this  respect,  he  found  fault 
with  this  giddiness  and  folly,  and  judged  that  a  colony  peopled 
by  such  indviduals  could  not  attain  a  very  brilliant  success. 

"At  last  game  in  tiiese  parts  becoming  scarcer,  the  Indians  re- 
moved themselves  further  off  and  were  seldom  here,  the  traders 
knew  very  well  where  to  find  them,  but  the  inhabitants  waited  for 
them  in  vain,  then  grease,  suet,  meat  and  peltries  being  no  longer 
brought  by  the  Indians  it  was  only  ;i  few  resident  hunters  and  the 
traders  themselves  that  provisioned  the  village,  the  unfortunate 
habit  of  not  working  had  gained  the  day,  it  was  too  difficult  to 
overcome  it,  so,  great  distress  was  often  seen  in  the  country  before 
they  could  snatch  a  few  ears  of  green  corn  from  a  badly  cultivated 
field,  three  or  four  Americans  at  most,  as  far  back  as  1793, 
had  risqued  the  settlement  of  farms  on  large  tracts  of  land, 
the  Creoles  under  valued  them,  did  not  eat  their  fill  of  dry  corn 
bread,  and  smoked  their  pipes  quietly,  they  were  however  sur- 
prised to  see  that  with  several  cows,  they  often  had  not  a  drop  of 
milk,  while  these  three  or  four  Americans  gorged  themselves 
with  it,  and  sold  them  butter,  cheese,  eggs  and  chickens  &c. 

"  By  dint  of  looking  into  the  matter,  and  waiting  in  vain  for  the 
Indians  to  supply  them  with  provisions,  it  str-ick  them  that  the 
most  prudent  thing  they  could  do,  would  be  to  become  farmers.  It 
became  then  a  species  of  epidemic,  and  the  malady  spreading 
from  one  to  the  other,  there  was  not  a  single  one  of  them  but  who, 
without  energy,  spirit,  animals  or  ploughs,  and  furnished  only 
with  his  pipe  and  steel,  must  needs  possess  a  farm. 

"It  was  towards  the  close  of  the  year  1793,  that  this  disease 
spread  itself,  and  towards  the  spring  of  1794  all  the  !j,nds  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  Madrid  were  to  be  broken  up  and  torn  into  rags,  to 
be  seeded  and  watered  by  the  sweat  of  these  new  farmers.  Who  can 


ORIGIN  OF  NEW  MADRID,  269 

tell  how  far  this  newly  awakened  enthusiasm  might  have  been 
carried?  It  might  have  produced  a  salutaiy  crisis,  and  self  love 
and  necessity  combined,  we  should  be  supplied  with  farmers  at 
all  hazards,  and  whose  apprenticeship  might  perpaps  have  resulted 
in  some  success. 

"  An  unlooked  for  occurrence  calmed  this  effervescence,  all 
■were  enrolled  into  a  militia  to  be  paid  from  January  1,  1794,  and 
they  found  it  much  pleasanter  to  eat  the  King's  bread,  receive 
his  pay,  and  smoke  his  pipes,  than  to  laboriousl}-^  grub  some 
patches  of  land  to  make  it  produce  some  corn  and  potatoes. 
These  militia  men  were  disbanded  about  the  middle  of  1794, 
their  pay  was  already  wasted,  they  found  it  a  great  hardship  to 
be  no  longer  furnished  with  bread  by  the  King,  the  largest  portion 
of  them  had  neglected  their  planting,  they  found  themselves  at 
the  j'^ear's  end  in  want,  and  clamored  as  thieves  against  the  King, 
saying,  '  it  was  all  his  fault.'  M.  Portell  knew  well  his  people 
and  disregarded  these  outcries. 

"  In  the  meantime  fivegallies  had  come  up  in  the  course  of  this 
year,  and  had  passed  all  the  summer  at  New  Madrid,  and  they 
had  caused  a  great  consumption  of  food ;  M.  Portell  found 
nothing  in  the  village  for  their  subsistence  and  drew  his  supplies 
for  them  in  part  from  Illinois  and  from  Kentucky.  He  did  not 
let  pass  the  opportunity  of  making  it  felt  b}-  those  of  the  inliabi- 
tants  of  long  residence,  that  should  iiave  been  in  a  condition  to 
have  furnished  a  part  of  these  supplies,  but  the  blows  he  struck 
came  too  late  and  made  but  little  impression  —  the  hot  fever 
which  had  occasioned  the  delirium,  where  every  one  saw  himself  a 
farmer,  had  now  subsided  ;  no  one  thought  any  more  of  it,  some 
of  them  who  had  made  a  trial  of  tlieir  experience  at  Lake  St. 
Isidor,  had  so  poorly  succeeded,  that  the  laugh  was  not  on  their 
side,  and  it  needed  but  little  for  hunting,  rowing  and  smoking  the 
pipe  to  resume  their  ancient  authorit}'  over  nearly  all  the  colony. 

"  In  1795  a  new  fit  of  the  fever  struck  the  inhabitants,  the  set- 
tlement of  Fort  St.  Fernando  occasioned  a  hasty  cleaning  out  of 
the  little  corn  the/e  was  in  the  colony.  Kentucky  furnished  a 
little,  and  Ste.  Genevieve  supplied  a  great  deal,  even  to  New 
Madrid  that  fell  shoit  after  having  consumed  her  own  supply. 
This  example  struck  the  inhabitants,  tbey  saw  tliat  if  they  had 


270  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

harvested  extensively,  thej'  could  have  well  disposed  of  their 
surplus —  new  desires  to  go  on  farms  to  raise  stock  and  to  make 
crops. 

"During  these  occurrences  several  American  families  came 
to  New  Madrid,  some  of  them  placed  themselves  at  once  on 
farms,  and  like  children,  our  Creoles  from  a  state  of  jealousy, 
clamored  against  the  Americans  whom  they  thought  too  wonderful, 
jealousy  stimulated  them  and  they  would  also  place  themselves 
on  farms. 

"  It  is  in  reality  then  onl}'  since  the  year  1796,  that  we  may 
regard  the  inhabitants  of  this  post  as  having  engaged  in  cultiva- 
tion, and  that  it  is  but  yet  absolutely  in  its  infancy ;  a  new  scarc- 
ity they  have  just  experienced  before  the  last  crop,  has  convinced 
them  of  the  importance  of  raising  them,  not  only  to  provide 
against  such  inflictions,  to  enable  them  also,  with  the  surplus 
above  their  own  consumption,  they  may  procure  their  other  indis- 
pensable necessaries. 

"  The  population  of  the  years  1794,  1795  and  1796,  is  nearly 
about  the  same,  but  the  crops  have  increased  from  year  to  year, 
and  all  tends  to  the  belief  that  this  increase  will  be  infinitely 
more  perceptible  in  future  years. 

"  In  the  year  1794  the  corn  crop  was  6,000  bushels. 
"         '«      1795  "  "        10,000         " 

"         "      1796  "  "        17,000         " 

"  It  was  in  this  condition  of  things  that  M.  Portell  left  hia 
command. 

"  It  was  perhaps  impossible,  from  the  foregoing  facts,  that  the 
settlement  at  New  Madrid  could  have  made  greater  progress  than 
it  has  up  to  this  time.  It  was  not  husbandmen  who  came  and 
laid  the  foundation,  it  was  tradesmen,  cooks  and  others,  who 
would  live  there  with  but  little  expense  and  labor,  who  being  once 
fixed  there,  having  their  lands  and  their  cattle,  the  Indians  having 
removed  themselves  to  a  distance,  and  trade  no  longer  within  the 
reach  of  all  the  worll,  necessity  taught  them  that  to  procure  the 
means  necessary  to  live  they  must  resort  to  tiLing  the  soil.  The 
first  attempts  were  difficult,  but  the  inducement  of  disposing  with 
ease  of  their  crops  determined  them  to  labor. 

"  The  first  steps  iiave  been  taken,  nothing  remains  for  a  wise 


ORIGIN  OF  NEW  MADRID.  271 

CoiniBandant  but  to  manage  '^verytliing  with  prudence,  according 
to  tiie  views  of  the  Government,  to  firmly  repel  idleness  and  lazi- 
ness, to  welcome  and  encourage  activity,  and  exhibit  to  the 
industrious  man  that  he  is  distinguished  above  others,  and  has 
earned  the  protection  of  tlis  government ;  in  giving  him  tangible 
proof,  either  by  preference  in  imrcliasing  from  him,  or  some  other 
manner  of  recompense.  The  honest  man,  the  active  and  indus- 
trious man  is  sensible  of  the  slightest  proceeding  on  the  part  of  his 
Superior,  and  it  is  to  him  a  great  expansion  to  reflect  that  his 
labors  and  fatigues  have  not  been  ignored,  and  that  they  have 
given  him  a  claim  on  the  good  will  and  benevolence  of  the  heads 
of  a  Province. 

"  What  a  vast  field  is  open  to  a  Commandant  who  would  reap 
advantage  by  these  means,  and  gain  the  benedictions  of  all  the 
worthy  inhabitants  of  a  Colony. 

"  I  stop  here,  Mr.  Commandant,  what  I  might  say  further 
would  add  but  little  to  the  good  purposes  you  design  for  the  pro- 
gress and  success  of  this  place.  I  have  made  a  concise  narrative 
of  the  origin  of  the  post  of  New  Madrid,  and  the  reasons  of  its 
slow  growth  in  agriculture.  The  census  which  follows  will  give 
you  a  correct  view  of  its  present  position.  It  will  prove  to  you 
tiiat  courage  and  emulation  need  but  a  slight  support  to  emerge 
from  the  giddiness  where  they  have  so  long  remained.  But  for 
certain  the  Creoles  will  never  make  this  a  flourishing  settlement, 
it  will  be  the  Americans,  Germans  and  other  active  people  who 
will  reap  the  glory  of  it. 

"  Observe  if  it  please  you,  sir,  that  amongst  the  habitations 
granted  long  since,  those  given  in  by  Francis  Racine,  by  Hunot, 
Sr.,  the  Hunot  sons,  Paquin,  Laderoute,  dec'd,  Gamelin,  Lalotte, 
&c. ,  have  not  yet  had  a  single  tree  cut  on  them  ;  that  those  of  the 
three  brothers  Saint  Marie,  Meloche  and  other  Creoles  are  barely 
commenced.  You  will  see,  on  the  contrary,  that  the  Americans 
who  obtain  grants  of  land  have  nothing  more  at  heart  but  to  settle 
on  them  at  once  and  improve  them  to  the  extent  of  their  ability, 
and  from  this  it  is  easy  to  draw  conclusions. 

"Another  observation  which  will  surely  not  escape  you,  sir,  is 
that  the  total  of  heads  of  families  amount,  according  to  the  cen- 
sus I  exhibit  to  you,  to  159,  and  that  in  this  number  there  arc  53 


272  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

who  have  no  property.  This,  I  think,  i8  an  evii  to  which  it  would 
be  easy  for  you  to  f-pply  a  remedy.  In  a  country  destined  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  to  the  breeding  of  domestic  animals,  it 
is  too  much  that  one-third  of  its  inhabitants  should  stand  isolated 
from  the  general  interest,  and  that  the  other  two-thirds  should  be 
exposed  to  be  tb.e  victims  of  a  set  of  idle  and  lazy  people,  always 
at  hand  in  their  slightest  necessities  to  satiate  their  hunger  by 
preying  on  the  industrious. 

"  I  think  Mr.  Commandant  that  several  habitations  left  by  per- 
sons who  have  absented  themselves  from  this  post  for  a  long  time 
should  be  re-united  to  the  Domain. 
"  The  following  are  of  this  class :  — 

"  One  Enie  Bolduc,  absent  for  over  2  years,  had  a  place  at 
Lake  St.  Francis  No.  2. 
"     John  Easton,  absent  over  three  years,  had  a  place  at 
Lake   St.  Eulalie ;  it  is  now  abandoned.     Mr.  Waters 
says  he  has  claims  on  it.     What  are  they? 
"     Tournay  had  a  place  at  Lake  St.  Isidor;  he  associated 
with  to  cultivate  it,  one  Gamard.     Tournay  returned  to 
France,  and  Gamard  has  worked  for  two  years  at  Fort 
Saint  Fernandez. 
"M.  Desrocher,  why  has  he  not  worked  his  place  in  the  Mill 
prairie,  which  he  holds  for  over  four  years  —  has  he  not  enough 
with  the  one  he  holds  at  St.  Isidor? 

"  M.  Chisholra  holds  three  places;  he  lives  on  one  he  has  just 

commenced  to  clear ;  a  second  is  in  litigation,  and  for  over 

four  years  he  has  done  nothing  on  a  third  near  the  village  — 

has  he  not  enough  with  two?     Why  hold  land  uselessly,  and 

above  all  near  the  village? 

"  The  examination  you  will  give  the  census  and  the  information 

concerning  the  property  of  each  head  of  a  family  will  lead  you 

probably  to  other  reflections.     I  append  to  the  whole  a  new  map 

of  the  village  and  its  environs,  as  taken  after  the  last  abrasion  of 

lands  by  the  Mississippi ;  this  work  claims  your  indulgence,  it  is 

not  that  of  an  artist,  but  of  one  of  the  most  zealous  subjects  of 

his  majesty ;  and  the  only  merit  it  may  possess  is  to  demonstrate 

to  you  with  correctness  the  number  of  places  that  have  been  con- 


FENCES  OF  PL0RI8ANT.  273 

ceded  in  tho  village,  the  houses  that  are  built  thereon,  and  the 
names  of  the  proprietors  on  the  general  list,  which  correspond 
with  the  same  numbers  as  those  placed  on  each  conceded  place. 

' '  I  pray  you  to  believe  me  with  profound  respect, 

"  Sir,  the  commandant, 

"  Your  verj'  affectionate  &  devoted 

"  Servant, 
"  Peter  Anthony  Lafokoe. 
"New  Madrid, 
Deer.  31,  1796." 


FENCES   OF   FLORISANT. 

"  To  Captain  Zenon  Trudeau,  commandant  in  chief  of  the  west- 
ern part  of  Illinois  — 

"  Sir,  being  clothed  with  full  authority,  and  having  charge 
of  the  public  affairs  of  the  village  of  Florisant,  in  regard  to  the 
young  men  who  refuse  to  connect  with  the  public  enclosure  own- 
ing stock,  who  are  Antoine  Riviere,  Sr.,  and  Antoine  Riviere,  Jr., 
Joseph  Riviere,  Jr.,  and  Francis  Riviere,  Jr.,  and  little  Blanc, 
and  Bonaventura  Marion,  and  we  have  Americans  who  made  the 
said  connexion  without  any  difficulty. 

"  Sir,  we  remind  you  that  you  granted  us  the  commons  ver- 
bally, and  it  began  by  costing  the  village  one  day's  time  of  Mr. 
Beaurosier  and  twelve  men  with  him  to  mark  it  out,  and  sec- 
ondly it  cost  the  village  to  survey  it  and  mark  its  bounds,  thirty- 
four  minots  of  wheat,  also  12  men's  labor,  without  the  above  named 
being  at  any  cost.  Sir,  it  is  Mr.  Antoine  Riviere,  Jun'r,  who 
acts  for  all  the  above  named,  and  tried  to  hinder  the  Americans 
from  making  their  share,  but  they  did  not  listen  to  him,  as  it  is 
for  their  interest  as  well  as  ours,  first  for  fire  wood,  next,  for  hay 
and  thirdly  for  the  live  stock. 

"  Done  at  St.  F'erdinand  this  April  17,  1797,  the  foregoing 
statement  approved  by  Mr.  Francis  Dunegant,  with  the  signatures 

18 


274  ANNALS  OF  BT.  LOUIS. 

of  all  the  former  siiidics,  and  of  Mr.  Amable  Gngne,  the  present 
sindic  for  this  service  chosen  by  the  people. 

his  his  his 

"Joseph  x  Rapieu,  Antoine  x  Makechal,  Francis  x  Maurau, 
mark.  mark.  mark, 

his  his  his 

Francis  M.  x  Challe,  Pierre  x  Devos,  Francis  x  DeLaurier, 
mark.  mark.  mark, 

bis 
Amable   x  Gaon^,  Francis  Duneqant." 

mark. 
•'  St.  Louis,  Aug't  21,  1797." 

"  All  Citizens  without  land  united  to  that  which  it  is  desirable  to 
enclose,  are  not  liable  for  the  Commons  enclosure,  which  protects 
them  from  animals ;  but  said  citizens  should  contribute  in  all  that  is 
of  public  benefit,  as  roads,  bridges,  commons  for  stock,  and  other 
matters  that  they  make  use  of,  consequently  should  assist  in  pay- 
ing the  survey  of  the  commons,  the  men's  hire,  &c. 

"  Zenon  Trudeac." 


leclercq  and  father  didier. 

"  To  Mr.  Zenon  Trndeau  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  Stationary  Regi- 
ment of  Louisiana,  and  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Western  part 
of  the  Illinois, 

"  Sir,  Augustus  LeClercq,  a  resident  of  this  town  informs 
you  that  after  the  presentation  that  has  been  made  at  several 
times,  to  your  knowledge,  to  Mr.  Joseph  Didier,  curate  of  this 
town,  of  a  note  for  two  thousand  and  fifty  livres,  drawn  by  him 
in  my  favor,  the  one  half  payable  on  January  first  next,  and  the 
other  half  on  January  1st  of  the  succeeding  year,  for  value  re- 
ceived by  him  in  the  proceeds  of  the  goods  wliioh  your  said  pe- 
titioner had  left  to  his  children,  on  his  departure  for  France  in 
the  month  of  June.  1792.  Said  demand  simply  requesting  the 
said  Mr.  Didier  to  convert  said  note  into  two  others  jointly  for 
the  same  amount,  each  for  one  half  at  same  dates,  to  your  said 


ORDINANCES  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.  275 

petitioner,  and  after  re-iterated  replies  which  said  Didier  made, 
t!;nt  '  he  did  not  owe  the  amount  of  said  note  to  said  petitioner, 
that  he  would  noitlier  change  nor  pay  it  when  it  became  due,' 
your  petitioner,  who  is  about  to  depart  for  New  Orleans,  has 
reason  to  believe  that  the  above  mentioned  Mr.  Didier  will  make 
the  saine  answer  when  tiie  note  becomes  due.  To  obviate  trouble 
and  to  know  on  what  to  depend  before  lie  leaves  the  town,  he  has 
recourse  ti>  you  to  interpose,  for  a  settlement  between  Mr.  Di- 
dier and  himself  according  to  what  you  might  l)e  pleased  to  direct, 
and  you  will  render  justice. 

"  LeClkrcq. 
"  St.  Louis,  October  11,  1797." 

"  Mr.  Pierre  Joseph  Didier,  Benedictine  friar,  curate  of  St. 
Louis,  replies  to  the  above  petition  read  to  him,  that  he  consents 
to  assign  the  reasons  he  has  for  refusing  to  pay  the  amount  of 
the  note  which  Mr.  LeClercq  reclaims,  before  arbitrators  chosen 
by  the  two  parties,  by  means  of  which,  if  his  refusal  is  not  a  just 
one,  he  consents  to  pay  it. 

"  PiEURE  Joseph  Didier. 

"  St.  Louis  Oct.  11,  1797." 

"  In  view  of  the  above  demand  and  reply,  the  parties  will 
each  choose  his  arbitrators,  who  being  sworn  will  meet  where  it 
may  suit  them,  to  terminate  with  another  one  offlciall}'  appointed, 
the  controversy  in  question. 

' '  Zenon  Trcdeau. 

"  St.  Louis  Oct.  11.  1797." 

Ml".  Leclercq  selected  Charles  Sanguinet  and 
James  Glamorgan,  and  Father  Didier  selected 
Charles  Gratiot  and  Antoine  Reilhe. 


regulations  for  the  government  of  new  ORLEANS. 

"  Don  Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos. 
"Brigadier  of  the  armies  of  the  King,  Governor  General,  Vice 
Royal  Patron  of  the  Provinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida, 
Inspector  of  the  Regular  Troops  and  Militia  of  the  same,  &c. 


276  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Desirous  of  maintaining  good  oriler  and  the  pulilic  Irnnqiiility, 
upon  which  dcpenda  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants,  we  have 
deemed  it  proper,  following  the  established  custom,  to  publish 
tlio  following  order  or  rognlati(jns,  for  the  execution  of  the  same 
we  will  employ  all  the  autliority  and  power  which  his  Majesty 
has  deigned  to  contlde  to  us  iu  giving  us  charge  of  this  Govern- 
ment. 

"  I.  All  persons,  of  whatsoever  class  it  may  be,  who,  under 
any  pretext  whatever,  will  have  the  audacity  to  blaspheme  the 
name  of  God  our  Lord,  tiie  Virgin  Mary  our  Lady,  or  sacred 
tilings,  or  make  use  of  threatening  oaths,  will  incur  tlie  penalties 
established  by  the  laws  of  these  kingdoms.  All  workmen  or 
artisans,  witliout  exception,  of  whatever  class  or  profession  it 
may  be,  who  will  be  convicted  of  having  worked  on  Sunday  or  a 
holy  day,  during  which  one  can  only  attend  to  work  in  cases  of 
necessity  by  especial  permission,  will  be  sentenced  to  a  fine  of 
ten  dollars,  or  if  he  is  insolvent,  to  six  days'  imprisonment ;  and 
his  employer  will  pay  double  the  amount. 

"It  is  prohibited,  under  penalty  of  24  hours'  imprisonment  to 
run  carts  on  holy  days  and  Sundays. 

"II.  No  person  of  whatever  state,  sex,  quality  or  condition 
he  may  be,  can  keep,  neither  in  his  or  other  i)ersons  houses,  nor 
in  the  suburbs  or  vicinity  of  this  city,  any  game  of  cards  or  dice, 
or  other  forbidden  games,  and  notably  those  known  under  the 
names  of  Lansquenet,  Monte,  Albures,  Primera,  Rolette,  Crabs 
and  others,  which  are,  unfortunately,  but  too  much  in  use  causing 
the  unhappiness  and  destruction  of  the  young.  Whoever  may 
infringe  this  prohibition,  will  be  punished  rigorously  to  the  extent 
of  the  law,  by  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  on  the  one  wiio  plays,  and  of 
one  hundred  on  the  keeper  of  the  house.  And  for  the  second 
offense  the  fine  will  be  double,  and  for  the  third  the  fine  will  be 
again  doubled,  and  they  will  be  sentenced  to  banishment.  And 
in  the  case  of  the  insolvency  of  the  parties,  the  players  will  re- 
ceive six  days'  imprisonment,  and  the  proprietors  twenty  days  for 
the  first  offense,  and  a  proportionate  increase  for  repetitions.  If 
slaves,  they  will  be  chastised  with  twenty-five  blows  of  the  whip. 

"III.  All  those  who  carry  arms  that  are  prohibited  bylaw, 
either  fire  arms  or  especially  poignards,  sheath-knives,  butcher- 


ORDINANCES  OF  NEW  0ULEAN8.  277 

knives,  floinish  knives,  i)ayonet8,  or  all  other  descriptions  of  pen- 
etrating instruments,  that  are  proliihitod  which  the  wickedness  of 
mankind  has,  or  may  invent  for  the  dcstriictiou  of  his  fellow  man, 
will  be  punished  witli  the  utmost  rigor  of  the  law,  without  any 
exception  and  without  regard  to  privileges, 

"  IV.  All  vagabonds  and  vagrants  without  homes,  and  of 
vicious  life,  who  fcjllow  no  trade  or  known  employment  in  this 
city,  by  which  they  may  prove  the  employment  of  their  time, 
must  leave  this  jurisdiction  within  three  days,  after  whicli  term, 
they  will  be  arrested  and  made  to  work  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  judged  suitable,  giving  notice  thiit  no  one  shall  secrete  or 
harb(jr  them  in  his  own  or  the  houses  of  others,  under  a  penalty 
of  twenty-five  dollars,  or  ten  days'  imprisonment  for  those  who 
may  be  insolvent. 

"  V.  To  compel  the  observance  of  these  regulations  and  others, 
whicii  have  for  their  object  the  maintainance  of  good  order  and 
tranquility  in  this  city,  they  will  uphold  in  all  its  strength  and 
vitality  tlie  proclamation  proclaimed  by  mj'  predecessor  the 
Baron  of  Carondelot,  the  i!6th  January,  1792,  on  the  division  of 
the  city  into  four  parts,  and  tlie  appointment  of  their  magistrates 
or  trustees,  reviving  in  its  full  force  the  3rd  Article  of  the  said 
Proclamation,  in  which  it  is  provided  that  so  liiat  the  Government 
may  have  a  perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  individuals  who  compose 
these  divisions,  and  of  those  who  come  to  and  leave  tlie  Cit}-,  who- 
ever lets  out  a  house  or  a  room,  or  furnisiies  lodging  to  any 
stranger,  must  make  it  known  during  the  day,  or  the  day  following 
at  the  latest,  to  the  magistrate  or  commissioner  of  his  division, 
under  a  penalty  of  two  dollars  for  tlie  first  offense,  and  four  dol- 
lars for  tlie  second ;  and  for  insolvents  eight  days'  imprisonment 
for  the  first,  and  fifteen  days  the  second  offense ;  those  who 
neglect  it  the  third  time,  will  l>e  condemned  to  a  much  longer  im- 
prisonment, or  to  such  other  punishment  as  the  government  may 
deem  proper  to  inflict. 

"  VI.  Taverns  and  Billiard-rooms  must  be  positively  shut  up 
at  the  hour  of  the  tattoo,  at  all  seasons,  under  a  penalty  of  eight 
dollars  fine  for  the  first  offense,  and  sixteen  for  the  second,  be- 
sides that,  the  proprietors  of  said  places  will  forfeit  the  privilege 
of  keeping  them.     The  said  Billiard- rooms  must  not  be  opened  on 


278  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Holy  (lays  until  after  tho  High  Mass;  and  on  working  dnySi  mc- 
cbanicd  and  woritracn  will  not  ho  porniittt'd  :o  frequent  them  dur- 
ing working  liours;  as  to  minors  and  slaves  they  are  forbidden  to 
be  found  there  at  any  time,  under  the  penalties  expressed  above. 

"It  is  permitted,  however,  to  have  in  the  doors  of  Taverns  a 
wicket  of  afoot  scpniro,  thnugli  which  to  deliver  those  ankles  of 
great  necessity  that  sick  pcr^tons  may  require  at  unaeasv  nahle 
hours ;  well  understood,  however,  that  the  door  is  not  to  be 
opened  for  any  purpose  whatever  after  retreat  (tattoo)  until  the 
dawn. 

"  VII.  To  escape  as  far  as  possible  the  harm  caused  by  flres,  it 
is  again  recommended  to  follow  the  fifth  article  of  the  above 
cited  Proclamation,  which  pres(;ril)es  that  tliere  shall  be  at  the 
bouse  of  the  Magistrate  of  each  division,  a  place  of  deposit  for 
buckets,  axes,  and  ladders,  which  will  be  distributed  by  him  to 
all  those  who  may  come  and  offer  themselves  to  work ;  with  the 
understanding  that  the  government  will  take  the  most  effective 
measures  to  locate  the  Engines  in  various  quarters,  so  that  tho 
Magistrates  of  the  quarters  having  knowledge  of  the  same  may 
make  use  of  tiiem  promptly  whenever  requisite.  With  the  same 
view,  it  is  ordained  to  all  proprietors  to  open  within  llfteeri  days, 
on  his  lot,  one  well  at  least,  of  a  sulflcient  diameter,  and  to  all 
tenants  to  have  it  done  at  the  expense  of  the  owner,  otherwise  it 
will  be  done  at  their  expense  by  tlie  galley  slaves.  The  Magis- 
trates of  the  (juarters  will  appoint  each  month  from  the  citizens 
of  their  respective  districts,  fifteen  men  used  to  iiandlc  the  axe, 
and  fifteen  bucket  carriers,  to  whom  he  will  distribute  axes  and 
buckets,  so  that  so  soon  as  they  find  that  a  fire  lias  broken  out 
in  their  quarter,  they  will  immediately  repair  to  the  place  with 
their  axes  and  buckets,  where  they  will  obey  no  orders  but  from 
an  experienced  citizen  of  the  quarter,  who  will  be  appointed  each 
month  for  that  purpose  by  the  commissioner.  In  cases  where  the 
fire  may  make  rapid  progress,  the  Magistrate  of  the  Quarter  may 
ask  assistance,  without  for  that  reason  that  other  citizens,  carpen- 
ters and  masons,  can  consider  themselves  exempted  from  assist- 
ing as  much  as  they  possibly  can,  as  it  is  their  duty  to  do  on 
occasions  of  the  kind. 

"  VIII.  The  Register  of  the  month,  whose  turn  it  may  be  to  per- 


ORDINANCES  OP  NEW  ORLEANS.  279 

form  tho  functions  of  clerk  of  tlie  market  will  post  up  in  the  City 
every  .Saturday  the  price  of  rarat,  of  beef  or  pork,  ami  liread  for 
the  succeeding  week,  and  be  who  sells  at  a  higlier  price,  or  does 
not  give  the  full  weight  or  measure,  will  pay  a  line  of  four  dollars 
fur  the  first  offense,  and  eight  for  the  second. 

"IX.  No  retailer  of  game,  flsh  or  other  eatables  whatever, 
coal,  wood,  lime,  etc.,  will  be  allowed  to  go  outside  the  gates  of 
St.  Charles,  St.  Louis,  St.  John  and  St.  Ferdinand  to  find  those 
who  sell,  or  inliahitants  who  come  from  the  vicinity  and  different 
directions  to  sell  their  provisions,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing 
and  hrinjilng  them  Into  tlie  city  as  belonjjing  to  them,  and  within 
tlie  enclosure  of  the  City  they  can  only  purchase  them  after  eight 
o'clock  A.  M.  during  the  summer,  and  after  ton  o'clock  in  winter, 
and  after  they  had  been  exposed  for  sale  for  over  two  hours,  so 
that  the  people  may  promptly  p'ovlde  for  themselvts;  no  one 
either  can  sell  the  provisions  he  may  bring  in  the  night  time, 
before  he  has  exposed  them  the  day  following  up  to  the  hour  Indi- 
cated as  above  for  tlie  summer  and  winter,  under  a  penalty  of  four 
dollars  fine  for  the  llrst  offence. 

"  As  a  general  rule.  It  Is  forbidden  to  all  retailers  to  purchase 
within  the  distance  of  five  leagues  from  the  City,  without  giving 
notice  to  the  Government  or  Reglstei  *or  the  month.  No  negress 
or  mulatress  slave  will  be  permitted  to  sell  In  the  streets,  or  on  the 
levee  without  a  written  permission  from  the  government,  and  a 
list  of  her  articles  for  sale  signed  by  her  master. 

"  Free  negresses  and  mulattresses,  that  it  would  be  more  suit- 
able to  see  employed  in  some  more  useful  manner,  will  also  not  be 
allowed  to  sell  in  the  streets  without  a  like  written  permission, 
and  a  list  for  their  articles  signed  by  the  commissioner  of  the 
Quarter. 

'*X.  No  person,  without  exception,  can  sell  to  slaves,  without 
a  written  permission  from  their  masters,  guns,  balls,  or  powder, 
nor  any  fire  arras  whatsoever,  under  a  penalty  of  fifty  dollars  fine, 
or  one  month  of  imprisonment  for  those  who  are  insolvent. 

"XI.  No  person  is  allowed  to  sell  on  credit,  traffic,  nor  pur- 
chase from  the  soldiers,  without  permission  in  writing  from  their 
officers,  nor  to  children  without  that  of  their  parents,  nor  to 
slaves  without  that  of  their  masters,  under  penalty  of  twenty 


280  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

dollars  fine  for  the  first  time,  and  forty  for  the  second,  and  in 
case  of  other  relapses,  justice  will  inflict  on  the  delinquents 
irapriaonmeut  or  banishment  and  the  loss  of  the  articles  bought  or 
traded  for,  and  which  if  found  to  have  been  stolen,  the  said  delin- 
quent will  be  tried  as  an  accomplice  and  receiver  of  stolen 
goods. 

"  This  an'-  le  is  applicable  to  the  Indians  also,  from  whom  it  is 
only  allowt'  o  purchase  wild  meat  obtained  from  hunting  and 
peltries. 

"  XII.  W  ver  sells  to  Indians,  or  to  slaves  without  permission 
from  their  nit.  ter,  liquors,  wine  or  brandy,  will  be  sentenced  to 
four  or  six  dollars  penalty  for  the  first  oifence,  and  to  double  the 
amount  for  the  second ;  and  should  it  be  ri  dram  shop  keeper,  his 
license  will  be  forfeited,  nor  can  he  in  the  future  obtain  another. 

"  XIII,  No  one  can  keep  a  Tavern,  without  a  written  permis- 
sion from  the  Government  and  the  Intendant,  under  penalty  o  f 
ten  dollars  fine,  or  one  month's  imprisonment  if  insolvent,  for  the 
first  offence,  and  of  double  for  the  second. 

"XIV.  Every  citizen  will  be  required  to  keep  the  sidewalk 
along  the  whole  front  of  his  lot,  in  a  good  and  clean  condition, 
and  lo  have  the  same  swept  and  sprinkltd,  at  least  once  a  day  in 
summer,  and  to  have  the  mud  cleaned  off  every  time  it  maj'  be 
practicable  in  the  winter,  under  a  penalty  of  two  dollars'  fine  for 
thei  first  neglect,  and  four  for  the  second,  and  if  the  delinquent 
has/  not  wherewith  to  pay,  he  will  be  punished  by  four  days'  im- 
prisonment the  first  time,  and  eight  the  second;  and  in  all  cases, 
wtcre  the  first  notification  has  not  been  complied  with,  the  owners 
of  the  lot  will  be  required  to  pay  whatever  has  been  expended  to 
hnve  it  put  in  good  condition. 

"  XV.  Every  citizen  is  expressly  required  under  the  same  pen- 
a  ties  to  keep  the  chimnies of  his liouse  in  gool  repair,  and  to  have 
t'lera  cleaned  out  at  least  once  a  month  in  winter,  and  once  in  two 
rionths  in  summer. 

"XVI.  Under  no  pretext,  nor  for  any  reason  whatever,  either 
in  building  or  repairing  houses,  will  it  be  permitted  to  put  the  en- 
<!losure  outside  the  curbstone,  nor  to  deposit  on  the  sidewalk  at 
liny  time,  lime,  earth  or  other  materials  which  would  obstruct  the 
passage. 


ORDINANCES  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.  281 

"XVII.  No  one  will  be  allowed  to  throw  into  the  streets,  rags, 
scraps  of  leather  or  cloth,  &c.,  nor  garden  stuffs,  house  litter, 
oyster  shells,  broken  glass  or  china,  &c.,  &c.,  nor  leave  in  the 
streets,  carriages,  carts,  «&c.,  day  nor  night  unless  in  use  at  the 
time. 

"  It  is  expressly  required  that  all  vacant  lots  shall  be  enclosed 
within  the  period  of  one  month,  and  in  case  of  neglect  it  will  be 
done  at  the  cost  of  the  owners  of  the  same. 

"  XVIII.  No  vehicles.  Coaches,  Caleches  nor  horses  will  be 
allowed  on  the  Levee,  under  a  penalty  of  six  dollars  fine.  Here- 
after no  one  will  be  permitted  to  erect  on  the  Levee  tiny  house 
cabin,  &c. ,  and  those  that  are  at  present  there,  cannot  be  repaired 
under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  them,  excepting  therefrom  those 
that  are  used  for  the  su[)port  of  the  orjjhans,  and  still  less  will  it 
be  permitted  to  excavate  cellars  or  vaults  tliereon. 

"  It  is  positively  prohibited  to  stow  away  and  saw  drift-wood, 
and  put  away  fire-wood  either  on  or  outside  the  Levee,  from  the 
gate  of  St.  John  to  beyond  the  last  cabins  of  the  careening  place. 
"  The  goods  that  are  unloaded  on  the  Levee  can  remain  there  no 
longer  than  is  necessary  for  the  Custom-house  examination,  under 
a  penalty  of  four  dollars  fine. 

"  It  will  not  be  allowed  under  any  pretext  whatever,  to  deposit 
such  materials  as  lime,  bricks,  wood  or  timber  on  or  outside  the 
Levee  from  the  gate  of  St.  Louis  as  far  as  the  careening  place,  and 
whatever  is  landed  there  must  be  removed  within  twenty-four 
hours. 

"  Fire- wood  and  lumber  for  Carpenters  and  fences,  must  be  ex- 
posed at  public  sale,  outside  the  gate  of  St.  Louis,  in  a  place  to 
be  fixed  upon  by  the  commissioner  of  this  quarter,  taking  care  to 
always  leave  clear  the  landing  place. 

"  It  will  not  be  allowed  under  any  pretext  to  wash  clothes  below 
the  careening  place,  under  penalty  of  two  dollars  fine  for  whites 
and  free  colored  persons,  and  ten  lashes  of  the  whip  for  slaves. 
"  Water  carriers  are  retiuired  to  take  their  water  from  the  river, 
outside  the  gate  of  St.  Louis,  under  penalty-  of  four  dollars  fine, 
and  twenty  lashes  of  the  whii)  for  slaves. 

"Dirt  must  be  thrown  in  the  river  in  front  of  the  quarter,  under 
penalty'  of  four  dollars  fine,  and  twenty  whip  lashes  for  slaves. 


282  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"It  is  positively  prohibited  to  empty  foul  water  into  the  gutters 
that  run  into  the  streets. 

"Dead  animals  must  be  put  under  ground,  under  penalty  of 
four  dollars  fine. 

"  No  one  can  raise  or  keep  swine  within  the  enclosures  of  the 
town  ;  but  it  will  be  permitted  to  kill  and  scald  them  there,  on  the 
express  condition  that  no  lii-e  for  the  purpose  must  be  made  of 
shavings,  chips  or  straws,  which  is  positively  prohibited  in  view 
of  the  grievous  consequences  which  may  result  therefrom. 

"  If  any  one  desires  to  singe  his  hogs,  he  will  be  held  to  do  it 
outside  the  city,  where  the  public  slaughter-house  will  also  be 
established. 

"The  manufacturers  of  hair  powder  must  have  their  work-shops 
outside  the  city,  owing  to  the  infectious  odor  exhaled  by  putrified 
flour. 

"  XIX.  No  slave  can  be  permitted  to  keep  a  room  or  a  lodging 
house  apart  from  that  of  his  master,  under  the  pretext  of  working 
by  the  day,  unless  it  be  a  slave  married  in  presence  of  the  Church 
to  a  free  woman ;  and  the  masters  of  such  slaves  are  required  to 
recall  them  to  their  homes,  under  penalty  of  four  dollars  fine  for 
the  first  offence,  and  eight  dollars  for  the  second ;  and  in  case  of 
other  recurrences,  such  punishment  will  be  inflicted  on  them  as 
may  be  deemed  suitable. 

"  XX.  No  person  whatever  will  be  permitted  to  keep  in  his 
store  more  than  25  pounds  of  gunpowder  at  a  time,  under  penalty 
of  confiscation  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  besides  fifty  dollars 
fine,  or  one  month's  imprisonment  for  those  who  are  insolvent  for 
the  first  offence,  and  of  double  for  the  second ;  and  whoso 
ever  carries  powder  in  or  outside  the  City  without  keeping  it 
well  covered  and  wrapped  in  tarpaulins,  will  pay  a  fine  of  ten 
dollars. 

"  XXI.  All  slaves  found  in  the  commons  without  a  written  per- 
mit from  his  master  to  go  and  cut  wood,  will  be  considered  a 
runaway,  and  chastised  with  25  lashes  of  the  Avhip. 

' '  XXII.  Every  Sailor  or  Boat-hand  who  has  engaged  himself 
for  a  voyage  on  a  barge,  a  pirogue  or  boat,  for  either  of  the  posts 
of  the  province,  and  who,  after  having  completed  the  engagement, 
or  received  some  money  on  account,  should  desert,  will  be  con- 


MISSOUKI  TRADING  COMPANY.  283 

demned  to  two  uonths  hard  labor  to  correct  the  intolerable  abuse 
which  has  introduced  itself  in  these  cases. 

"  XXIII.  After  the  pericul  of  three  days  precisely,  all  the  dogs, 
curs,  mastiffs  and  others  of  the  species,  that  are  found  in  the 
streets  will  be  killed ;  all  citizens  who  desire  to  preserve  them  for 
pleasure  or  use,  being  obliged  to  keep  them  confined. 

•'  New  Orleans,  January  1,  1798. 


PETITION  OF  THE  MISSOURI  TRADING  COMPANY. 

"  To  Don  Emanuel  Gujoho  de  Lemos,  Brigadier  of  the  armies  of 

his   Catholic   Majes'y^   Governor   General  of  the    Province  of 

Louisiana : 

"My  Lord,  Your  humble  petitioner,  Joseph  Robidou,  Mer- 
chant, Lieut,  of  Militia,  has  the  honor  to  lay  before  you,  that  he 
was  calmly  and  advantageously  pursuing  his  trade  with  the  In- 
dian tribes  in  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Louis,  his  residence,  when 
on  May  12,  1794,  Mr.  Zenon  Trudeau,  Lieut.  Governor  of  this 
western  part  of  the  Illinois,  desirous  of  extending  the  knowledge 
of  the  places  under  his  jurisdiction,  promote  commerce,  and 
wrest  from  the  English  nation  a  portion  of  the  gains  they  fraud- 
ulently acquired  from  the  dominions  of  his  Catholic  majesty, 
having  assembled  all  the  traders  of  St.  Louis,  proposed  to  them 
to  unite  in  co-partnership,  consolidate  their  respective  capitals, 
and  control  the  trade  in  peltries,  then  carried  on  in  the  Upper  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  Zenon  Trudeau  in  suggesting  this  enterprise,  explained 
to  them,  that  his  purpose  was,  at  the  same  time,  to  enlighten  the 
age,  in  regard  to  that  portion  of  the  Globe,  as  yet  so  little  known. 

"To  this  effect  he  required  that  in  pursuing  this  trade,  those 
engaged  in  it,  would  pay  attention  to  unite  to  the  employees  they 
might  send  to  the  country,  enlightened  persons,  who  would  use 
every  exertion  to  penetrate  to  the  sources  of  the  Missouri,  and 
beyond  if  posible  to  the  Southern  Ocean  —  take  observations  and 
heights  of  localities,  and  notices  of  the  tribes  who  inhabit  them, 
their  habits  and  customs,  the  trade  that  might  be  established  with 
them  —  note  them  as  suitable  marts  for  trade,  or  Forts  for  the  pro- 
tection of  commerce,  in  a  word  to  acquire  a  correct  knowledge  of 


284:  ANNALS  OF  ST,  LOUIS, 

a  country  until  this  period  solely  inhabited  by  Indian  tribes,  and 
almost  entirely  unknown. 

"Your  petitioner  was  one  of  the  first  to  eagerly  embrace  a 
project  so  wisely  conceived,  and  which  was  at  an  early  day  to 
cause  the  Colony  to  flourish,  enrich. all  the  members,  and  add  to 
the  glory  of  the  Crown.  It  is  unnecessary  to  enumerate  to  your 
Excellency,  the  names  and  the  number  of  traders,  who  co-operated 
with  your  petitioner,  and  who  perceived  as  himself,  the  good 
fortune  and  wealth  to  be  derived  from  the  enterprise,  they  are 
known  to  your  Excellency.  There  were  but  two  of  them  who, 
after  having  agreed,  withdrew  and  renounced  the  partnership ; 
more  enlightened  than  your  petitioner,  they  perceived  in  the  un- 
dertaking their  future  ruin,  which  he  has  since  found  out,  but  too 
late,  and  which  would  not  have  occurred,  had  it  been  managed 
by  an  honest  man.  In  fact  sir,  the  act  liad  but  just  been  resolved 
upon,  when,  by  a  blindness  your  petitioner  and  his  associates  are 
amazed  at,  selected  to  place  at  the  head  of  the  enterprise,  a  man 
who  was  the  least  proper  to  its  success.  It  was  Mr.  Clamorgan, 
whose  private  business  affairs  were  in  the  greatest  disorder  and 
confusion,  whose  probity  was  suspected  by  several,  intriguing,  a 
fluent  tongue,  pliant,  and  even  servile  when  it  was  politic  to 
deceive  to  exalt  himself,  or  to  injure  others.  Such  was  the  man 
that  your  petitioner  and  his  associates  chose,  believing  him  the 
most  competent  to  conduct  great  operations,  which  he  said  he  had 
done  all  his  life. 

•'The  associates  of  Mr.  Clamorgan,  as  I  have  just  depicted 
him  to  your  Excellency,  fearing  he  might  not  act  justly  toward 
them,  and  trick  them,  to  prevent  which  the}'  associated  Mr. 
Reilhe  with  him  in  the  management,  a  man  of  established  probitv, 
that  they  thought  was  the  proper  on(!  to  watch  over  their  suspected 
head,  but  this  honest  man  became  tlie  dupe,  he  deceived  and 
ruined  him  as  he  did  the  others. 

"  Your  Excellency  will  feel  surprised  that  an  association  placed 
at  its  head,  one  in  whom  they  had  no  confidence  — your  Excellency 
will  recover  from  this  surprise  when  he  will  know  that  the  co-part- 
ners not  believing  any  of  themselves  suflSciently  competent  to 
conduct  so  extensive  an  enterprise,  fearing  that  in  assuming  it 
they  jeopardized  their  little  fortunes  and  that  of  the  association  — 


MISSOURI  TRADING  COMPANY.  285 

they  flattered  themselves,  that  in  honoring  Mr.  Glamorgan,  as 
head  of  the  concern,  the  man  would  bear  in  mind  the  true  prin- 
ciples of  integrity,  and  that  he  would  manage  its  affairs  more 
honorably  than  he  had  up  to  that  day  managed  his  own,  and  that 
ambitious  to  merit  the  good  opinion  of  his  co-citizens,  or  to  regain 
it  if  forfeited  unjustly,  he  would  strive  to  bring  to  his  aid,  all 
the  light  and  knowledge  he  possessed  to  conduct  with  noble  dis- 
interestedness and  expanded  views  an  enterprise,  which  if  well 
managed  should  work  his  fortune  and  tliose  of  his  co-partners, 
tlie  general  advantage  of  the  Colony,  and  add  to  the  glory  and 
renown  of  the  Monarchy.  Their  hopes  were  deceived,  and  far 
from  having  opened  to  them  the  road  to  fortune,  he  led  them,  to 
the  abyss  of  misfortune.  Notwithstanding  all  the  trust  that  his 
associates  reposed  in  the  ability  of  Mr.  Glamorgan,  however  little 
tliey  had  in  his  probity,  they  thought  it  essential  to  their  safety 
to  adopt  a  code  of  regulations  for  the  association,  consequently 
under  the  auspices,  and  aicled  by  the  intelligence  of  Mr.  Zenon 
Trudeau,  the  act  of  co-partnership,  nhich  is  in  your  Excellency's 
custody,  was  revised  and  corrected,  and  sent  to  the  Government 
for  approval.  That  act  was  but  little  respected  by  Mr.  G.  he 
transgressed  it  whenever  he  thought  it  to  his  interest  so  to  do. 

"Mr.  Glamorgan  having  been  chosen  and  placed  at  the  head, 
began  his  work.  He  was  then  entirely  unprovided  with  mor- 
chandise,  as  were  also  several  of  the  co-partners.  Your  petitioner 
not  to  delay  the  operations  of  the  Gompany  opened  his  store  and 
loaned  to  Mr.  Glamorgan,  and  to  some  of  the  co-partners,  the 
articles  they  severally  needed.  We  supposed  that  Mr.  G.,  would 
select  from  amongst  the  traders,  men  of  known  integrity,  skilled 
in  the  trade,  and  speaking  various  Indian  dialects.  We  were  sur- 
prised and  chagrined  that  he  selected  but  those  who  were  known 
tr  be  the  most  wortliless  and  corrupt,  and  that  for  the  sole  reason 
that  they  had  long  been  in  his  debt ;  true,  he  selected  a  few  honest 
ones  among  the  number,  but  so  ignorant  and  of  such  little  experi- 
ence in  the  business,  that  it  is  not  surprising  he  did  not  succeed- 
He  needed  men,  who,  with  their  eyes  open  to  the  business,  did 
not  extort,  and  with  whose  aid  he  might  without  fearing  imputa- 
tions, have  made  judicious  changes  in  the  portions  of  tlie  general 
outfit  made   by   the  several   co-partners.     From  that  moment  it 


286  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

was  feared  that  he  was  not  going  right,  but  it  was  only   sus- 
picion. 

"  If  Mr.  Glamorgan  iiad  reallj'  at  heart  the  success  of  the  Com- 
pany, he  would  have  selected  intelligent,  prudent,  economical  men, 
to  manage  an  undertaking  which  required  wisdom,  system  and 
economy  to  accomplish  success  for  the  benefit  of  the  association 
and  the  Government.  A  course  so  lacking  in  honesty  on  the  part 
of  Mr.  C.  caused  the  loss  of  the  first  outfit,  men  poorly  selected, 
goods  in  bad  condition,  damaged,  necessarily  drew  on  the  loss. 

"  A  second  and  third  outfit,  were  not  more  successful,  because 
nothing  was  properly  done,  several  of  the  co-partners  backed  out 
after  the  first  loss,  not  that  they  had  changed  their  view  of  the 
adventure  in  itself,  but  rather  that  they  perceived  the  faithless- 
ness of  the  principal  agent,  that  would  occasion  the  loss  of  all 
other  outfits  they  might  make.  At  the  last  one  your  petitioner 
was  the  only  remaining  partner. 

"Mr.  Glamorgan  in  contempt  of  the  articles  of  association, 
had  acquired  the  shares  of  two  of  the  par'.ners,  so  that  he  was  in 
himself  Agent  and  Company,  and  your  petition  having  but  one 
share  could  neither  oversee  nor  control  in  the  least  the  outfits  he 
C.  thought  proper  to  make,  so  that  it  resulted  in  the  almost  ruin  of 
your  petitioner  who  lost  in  the  three  adventures,  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  petitioner  would  not  have  complained  of  his  loss,  had 
he  no  fault  to  find  with  Mr.  Glamorgan's  course,  and  had  he 
acted  like  an  honest  man,  but  the  petitioner  cannot  forgive,  not 
only  his  mis-management,  but  of  abusing  the  credit  he  had  ob- 
tained with  the  Government  through  the  mis-placed  confidence 
reposed  in  him  by  his  co-partners,  and  which  it  is  but  proper  to 
expose  to  your  Excellency  the  cunning  and  craftiness  of  Mr. 
Glamorgan. 

"Mr.  C.  perceiving  that  the  Missouri  association  would  fall 
through  for  lack  of  means,  since  he  had  succeeded  in  nearly 
ruining  the  members — finding  no  longer  the  means  of  making  new 
dupes,  unwilling  also  to  forfeit  the  reputation  he  flattered  himself 
he  had  acquired  by  tlie  crafty  letters  he  had  written  to  the  Gov- 
ernment, as  by  the  notices  he  had  caused  to  be  inserted  in  your 
papers,  "  that  he  was  the  soul  of  an  enterprise  that  would  im- 
mortalize  its  projector.  "     He  forestalled  a  rich  English  Mer- 


MISSOURI  TUADING  COMPANY.  287 

chant  of  Canada,  intent  upon  extending  his  trade  as  all  the  English 
are,  he  exliibited  to  liiin  the  great  means  he  had  in  hand,  to 
promptly  realize  a  great  fortune ;  he  succeeded  in  gaining  his 
confidence  to  such  an  extent  that  he  put  in  iu«  liands  a  large  capi- 
tal, solicited  for  him  the  exclusive  trade  of  the  Mississippi,  hop- 
ing by  this  means  to  re-unite  some  future  day,  the  same  privilege 
for  that  of  the  Missouri,  and  so  engross  all  the  trade  of  the  Illinois 
country  —  he  was  upon  the  point  of  succeeding,  when  death 
carried  off  at  New  Orleans  this  Merchant,  who  would  have  been  a 
dupe  as  ynur  petitioner  was  —  the  lieirs  will  soon  learn  to  what 
a  man  their  Parent  had  surrendered  himself. 

"  Your  Excellency  must  perceive  in  this  brief  expose  that  Mr. 
Glamorgan's  aim  was  after  exhausting  the  resources  of  a  portion 
of  the  traders,  to  monoi)olize  all  the  trade  of  the  country,  and  to 
carry  it  on  alone,  on  the  ruins  of  those  whose  means  he  had  the 
address  to  appropriate  to  himself. 

"  Your  Excellency  may  perhaps  imagine  that  the  object  of  your 
petitioner  is  to  demand  from  Mr.  Glamorgan  damages  and  interest 
on  the  losses  he  sustained,  he  is  not  so  fond  of  litigation  as  to 
attempt  such  an  enterprise,  it  would  necessitate  the  lifting  of  the 
curtain  which  hides  all  the  fraudulent  tricks  of  Mr.  C.,  probe 
an  almost  impenetrable  abyss,  and  j'our  petitioner's  life  would 
not  be  long  enough  to  sweep  over  the  ground,  that  such  a  pur- 
suit would  imi)air  the  tranquillity  of  soul  of  j'our  petitioner.  He 
does  not  intend  to  call  Mr.  C.  to  account  for  his  depredations.  He 
ventures  only  to  pray  j'ou  to  withdraw  from  Mr.  Glamorgan  the 
exclusive  privilege  of  the  trade  of  the  Missouri,  which  he  mono- 
polizes under  the  name  of  Todd  &  Co.  —  a  privilege  which,  in 
ciianging  the  trade  of  the  Illionis,  brings  no  advantage  to  New 
Orleans,  the  center  of  all  the  trade  of  this  country,  inasmuch  as 
all  the  peltries  from  thi?  river  go  to  Canada,  and  never  are  seen 
at  the  place  which  should  be  their  proper  destination,  such  as  it 
was  agreed  on  when  the  privilege  was  granted. 

"  Allow  your  petitioner  to  continue  in  the  Missouri  association, 
which  he  does  not  regard  as  a  chimera  although  he  lost  largely. 

"  In  praying  you  also  that  said  societj'  be  reformed,  that  Mr. 
Glamorgan,  who  by  his  manipulations  has  made  himself  the 
perpetual  head,  be,  not  only  excluded  from  all  intermeddling  but 


288  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS, 

also  to  relinquish  his  stock  and  all  those  he  bousht  or  traded 
for,  to  the  end  that  said  company,  remoddled  and  re-created 
under  the  auspices  of  your  Excellency,  and  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Zenon  Trudcau,  the  most  sagacious,  prudent,  and  zealous  of 
Commandants,  who  lias  made  his  appearance  in  the  Colony.  If 
your  Excellency  deigns  to  entertain  the  request  of  your  petitioner, 
he  mightj  recover  his  losses,  and  try  again  tlie  enterprise  risquing 
the  remainder  of  his  means,  to  attain  the  object  which  the  society 
and  the  government  had  proposed  to  themselves.  He  hopes  to 
obtain  that  boon  from  your  kindness  and  your  justice. 
He  has  the  honor  to  sign  himself,  My  Lord, 

Your  most  humble  and  Obed't  Servant 

JOSErU  ROBIDOD. 
St.  Louis  March  7,  1798. 


SCHEME    OK  THE    KING    OF    SPAIN    TO    KEIM.EN18H    HIS    THEASUHY  1798. 

Translation. 

"I  send  to  your  Lordship,  by  the  King's  order,  four  printed 
copies  of  the  Royal  decree  directed  to  mo  by  his  M-ajesty. 

"You  will  there  see  the  urgent  necessity  that  exists  to  provide 
for  the  defence  and  preservation  of  the  Monarchy  by  the 
means  there  represented,  and  the  greatness  and  magnanimity  of 
tlie  determination  to  prefer  above  all  imposts  the  voluntary 
offerings  of  loyalty  and  patriotism.  In  truth  his  Majesty  has 
seen  with  the  liveliest  satisfaction  how  much  this  course  has 
animated  the  hearts  of  his  subjects  in  his  States,  for  hardly  had 
the  news  been  spread  than  considerable  and  repeated  gifts  have 
flowed,  and  continue  to  tlow  in,  every  da^-,  each  one  contributing 
in  proportion  to  his  ability  and  even  making  admirable  efforts. 

"His  Majesty  being  persuaded  that  he  would  find  no  less  at- 
tachment on  the  part  of  liis  subjects  who  reside  in  his  possessions 
in  America,  has  resolved  to  have  circulated  tiiere  the  said  Royal 
order,  to  the  end  that  following  the  example  of  those  of  this 
Kingdom,  every  one  of  them  would  strive  to  contribute  to  so 
laudable  an  object  as  that  of  providing  for  its  conservation,  hop- 
ing that  they  will  give  him  this  new  proof  of  their  loyalty,  especially 


THE  KING'S  REPLENISHING  SCHEME.  289 

those  who  possess  fortunes,  and  the  persons  who  have  the  honor 
of  serving  in  his  Tribunals,  they  having  greater  reason  to 
know  the  present  necessities  of  the  State  and  the  easy  manner 
talien  by  tlie  King  to  supply  them,  they  being  also  better  able  to 
appreciate  the  efforts  of  his  Royal  benevolence.  I  apprise  you 
of  this  arrangement  by  his  order,  to  the  end  that  you  make  them 
known  at  tiie  Capital  and  other  dependencies  of  your  government, 
and  also  that  as  those  contributions  arc  made,  either  by  voluntary 
contribution  or  loan,  you  give  me  notice  in  naming  those  who 
contribute  them,  and  particularly  each  one  of  them,  so  that  I 
can  place  it  all  under  the  eye  of  his  Majesty. 

God  have  your  Lordship  in  his  holy  keeping. 
Aranjuez,  June  20th,  1798. 

Signed    Saavedra. 

To  Mons.  the  Governor 

of  Louisiana. 
Copy  conforming  to  the  original. 

New  Orleans,  Feb.  28,  1799. 

Andres  Lopez. 
Translation. 

"  The  shackles  and  obstacles  that  the  industry  and  commerce  of 
my  Spanish  Provinces  are  made  to  suffer  as  the  inevitable  con- 
sequences of  war,  added  to  the  stagnation  in  the  funds  and  the 
precious  productions  of  my  Amerian  possessions,  are  the  causes 
why  the  products  of  my  Royal  revenues  at  this  day  are  found 
much  reduced,  while  on  the  other  hand  the  extraordinary  ex- 
penditures that  are  found  necessary  for  the  defence,  the  honor 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  Monarchy  accumulate  and  augment 
progressively ;  so  that  after  having  exhausted  the  resources  to 
which  in  preceding  times  we  had  recourse,  there  remains  a  very 
considerable  void,  which  it  is  urgently  and  indispensibly  necessary 
to  fill  by  some  means  equally  extraordinary. 

To  impose  new  contributions  is  justifiable  by  the  example  of 
other  belligerent  nations,  and  by  the  concurrence  of  present  cir- 
cumstances, where  the  ties  of  interest  and  public  duty  compels 
every  individual  for  the  good  and  the  preservation  of  the  State  to 
make  sacrifices  proportionate  to  their  respective  means ;  but  as  it 

10 


290  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

is  re»iugnant  to  the  sensibility  of  ray  paternal  heart  to  resort  to 
thiH  last  remedy,  before  I  have  proved  tlic  insufflciency  of 
the  others,  I  have  preferred  to  follow  the  impulse  of  a  perfect 
reliance  I  entertain,  that  ray  dear  and  faithful  subjects  guided 
by  the  inclinations  of  their  own  honor,  their  loyalty  and  their 
patriotism,  will  make  a  generous  effort  to  complete  the  sum 
necessary  for  present  necessities.  In  consequence  I  have  come 
to  the  conclusion  to  open,  in  Spain  and  in  America  two  sub- 
scriptions: one  for  those  voluntary  gifts  that  persons  of  all 
classes  and  conditions  may  offer  of  tlieir  own  free  will,  of  such 
sums  of  money,  or  articles  of  gold  or  silver,  that  their  zeal  for 
the  public  cause  may  suggest  to  them,  the  other  for  a  patriotic 
loan,  without  interest,  which  will  be  re-imbursable  in  the  precise 
term  of  ten  years,  to  commence  running  two  years  after  the  day 
of  the  announcement  of  Peace.  So  that  in  this  manner  each  one 
may  participate  in  the  honor  and  satisfaction  of  having  contributed 
to  a  purpose  so  essential  to  the  State,  without  depriving  liim- 
self  of  tlie  use  of  the  means  he  may  need  for  ulterior  purposes, or  to 
further  the  progress  of  his  industr}'. 

"  And  for  the  best  and  most  prompt  accomplishment  of  all  that  is 
above  written  I  desire  that  the  following  arrangements  and  con- 
ditions be  observed  and  fulfilled. 

"I.  In  Madrid  and  its  jurisdiction,  both  Subscriptions  will  be 
received  by  the  President  of  my  council,  or  by  one  or  more  per- 
sons of  consideration  and  worthy  in  every  respect  of  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people,  to  whom  he  may  specially  delegate  his 
powers. 

"  II.  In  the  principal  large  Cities  in  Spain,  where  my  chancellor- 
ships  and  Royal  courts  are  established,  tlie  said  subscription  will 
be  made  equally  into  the  hands  of  the  Presidents  or  principal  offi- 
cers respectively,  who  may  delegate  their  authority  to  persons  of 
distinction  and  of  solid  fortune,  in  the  other  cities,  towns  and 
villages  of  their  districts  ;  paying  attention  that  none  of  my  sub- 
jects have  to  go  out  of  the  place  where  they  reside,  nor  to  employ 
intermediate  agents  for  that  important  service. 

"III.  The  same  course  will  be  observed  in  America,  by  my 
Viceroys  of  New  Spain,  Peru,  Santa  Fe,  and  the  Provinces  of  the 
Rio  de  la  Plata,  and  by  the  Captains-General,  Governors  of  Ha- 


THE  KINO'S  REPLENISHING  SCHEME.  291 

vanna,  Porto-Rico,  Caracas,  Guatainala,  Chili  and  tlie  Pljillippine 
Islands,  who  will  take  the  greatest  care  that  the  honora)>le  con>- 
mission  to  receive  these  subscriptions  be  intrusted  in  each  place 
to  persons  who  unite  external  distinction  to  a  well-established 
reputation  for  disinterestedness,  integrity  and  patriotism. 

"  IV.  There  will  be  sent  to  all  those  who  will  be  intrusted  with 
this  commission,  printed  forms  of  both  subscriptions,  so  that  it 
will  only  be  necessary  for  them  to  fill  the  blank  spaces,  and  that 
they  uniformly  follow  one  and  the  same  method. 

"  V.  The  subscribers  to  the  voluntary  gift,  will  contract  by  the 
act  of  affixing  their  signatures,  the  distinct  and  formal  obligation 
to  send  to  our  Royal  Mints  the  articles  of  gold  and  silver  of  which 
they  will  designate  the  weight,  or  to  remit  to  the  order  of  my  act- 
ing Treasurer-general  the  said  articles,  or  the  amount  of  specie 
money  for  which  each  one  may  have  subscribed,  and  to  effect  said 
remittance,  without  deviating  from  the  conditions  established  by 
themselves  at  the  time  of  the  subscription. 

"  VI.  Accordingly  as  these  subscriptions  are  gathered  in,  either 
by  the  Governor  of  my  council,  or  the  Presidents  and  heads  of  my 
chancellorships  and  Royal  courts  of  Spain,  or  through  their  indi- 
vidual representatives,  who  will  pass  them  over  with  the  least  pos- 
sible delay,  they  will  be  sent  to  my  Treasurer  General  to  enable 
him  to  provide  for  gathering  in  the  specie  in  the  convenient  time, 
and  to  receive  the  other  precious  articles  by  the  most  prompt  and 
economical  means,  well  understood  that  for  the  sake  of  good 
order  and  compatibility  they  will  observe  in  these  operations  the 
usual  formalities. 

"  VII.  In  America  the  Vice-Roys  and  Captains  General  will  take 
the  necessary  steps  to  gather  into  the  treasuries  of  my  Royal  ex- 
chequer, with  punctuality,  the  sum  total  of  these  subscriptions, 
where  they  will  be  kept  separately  until  the  first  opportunity  to 
send  them  to  Spain,  or  until  I  give  them  some  other  destination, 
in  sending  me  notice  by  all  opportunities  of  their  actual  condition. 

"  VIII.  The  patriotic  loan  will  be  composed  of  an  indefinite 
number  of  shares  of  one  thousand  reals  each,  of  which  a  certain 
number  will  be  divided  into  four  portions,  so  that  even  persons  of 
very  little  means  may,  in  depriving  themselves  for  a  time  of  the 
use  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  reals,  procure  for  themselves  the 


292  ANNALS  OF  ST,  LOUIS. 

honour  of  perpetuating  the  memory  of  their  zeal  for  the  interest 
of  the  State. 

"  IX.  The  ofHccrs  and  pereons  appointed  in  Articles  I.,  II.  and 
in.  to  receive  the  subscriptions  in  the  whole  Kingdom,  will  also 
receive  and  send  those  for  this  loan  to  ray  Treasurer  General,  who 
will  take  suitable  steps  to  pass  them  into  my  principal  Treasury,  or 
in  those  of  the  army  or  the  nearest  Provinces  without  any  expense 
to  the  lenders,  the  amount  of  their  shares,  or  portions  of  shares,  for 
which  they  had  subscribed,  by  giving  or  sending  them  letters  of 
credit,  issued  in  their  favour,  to  the  end  that  they  may  serve  as 
legitimate  titles  for  their  loans. 

"  X.  My  Vice-Roys  and  Captains-general  of  the  Americas  and 
Pliillippinc  Islands,  will  also  see  that  there  are  given  to  Subscribers 
in  the  treasuries  of  my  Royal  exchequer,  provisional  acknowledge- 
ments of  the  amounts  they  have  contributed,  and  so  that  in  the 
three  days  preceding  the  departure  of  each  messenger,  the  Treas- 
urers remit  them  a  single  statement  of  receipts,  which  will  include 
the  saiil  amounts  as  received  for  the  account  of  my  Treasurer 
General  and  to  be  sent  to  Spain,  on  which  will  be  specified  the 
names  and  residences  of  those  interested  ;  and  by  virtue  of  these 
papers,  which  the  said  Vice- Roys  and  Captains-general  will  send 
me  by  the  conveyance  reserved  for  the  public  treasure,  my  princi- 
pal Treasury  will  despatch  the  certificates  relative  thereto,  which 
will  be  sent  to  the  same  Principals,  to  be  sent  by  them  to  the 
parties  to  whom  they  properly  belong. 

"XI,  These  certificates  will  be  printed  with  a  plate  engraved 
expressly  therefor ;  they  will  be  invested  with  the  signatures  of 
my  Grand  Treasurer  and  Comptroller  of  my  principal  Treasury ; 
there  will  be  a  blank  space  left  to  insert  the  name  of  the  contrib- 
utor, and  in  numbering  them  they  will,  pursue  the  ordinary  usual 
mode,  without  leaving  any  one  void. 

"  XII.  The  subscription  will  date  in  Spain,  the  31st  of  Decem- 
ber of  the  present  year,  1798,  and  in  America  the  30th  of  June 
of  the  next  year,  1799,  the  loan  to  be  counted  by  the  number  of 
shares  filled  at  that  date, 

' '  XIII.  At  the  close  of  each  of  the  ten  years  which  will  follow 
the  two  first  years  of  peace,  counting  from  the  day  it  will  be  pro- 
claimed, the  one-tenth  part  of  these  certificates  will  be  cancelled ; 


THE  KINO'S  REPLENIHIllNU  SCHEME.  293 

for  this  purpose  thoy  will  draw  lots  for  the  numbers  of  those  to 
be  cancelled,  und  the  full  ru-pnymcnt  of  their  value  will  be  made 
st  the  same  place  where  the  amount  was  delivered,  or  where  the 
lender  may  find  convenient. 

"XIV.  Seeing  that  this  patriotic  loan  is  for  the  defence  and 
the  common  safety  of  the  State,  I  declare,  in  my  character  of 
supreme  administrator,  that  in  all  time  it  will  bo  considered  as  a 
national  debt,  and  in  my  own  proper  name,  as  in  the  names  of 
my  successors,  I  pledge  all  the  revenues  of  my  Crown  to  its  punc* 
tual  repayment  in  the  manner  before  prescribed. 

"  XV.  I  desire  also  that  the  subscription  to  the  voluntary  gift, 
to  the  patriotic  loan,  or  to  both,  be  regarded  as  a  positive  act ; 
and  eo  that  in  all  future  time  it  may  be  distinguished  as  an  act  of 
honor  and  great  merit  in  the  persons  of  the  subscribers  and  their 
descendants,  there  will  be  printed  and  published  full  lists  of  all 
their  names,  specifying  the  amount  subscribed  and  the  date  cf 
payment ;  and  certified  copies  of  these  lists  will  be  deposited  in 
the  offices  of  my  Secretaries  of  State,  in  those  of  the  Chambers 
of  Castile  and  the  Americas,  and  in  all  the  other  Tribunals,  Royal 
Bureaus  and  public  Archives  of  the  nation  in  both  domains,  so 
that  the  memory  of  these  services  may  be  perpetuated,  and  that 
particulars  may  be  drawn  from  it  whenever  it  might  become  a 
question  of  dignity,  employment  and  honor. 

"  Of  this  you  will  consider  yourself  apprised,  and  will  issue 
the  orders  and  instructions  necessary  for  its  execution. 

"  Signed  by  the  Royal  hand  of  the  King,  at  Aranjuez,  May 
27,  1798. 

' '  To  Don  Fran' CO  Saavedra. ' ' 

"  A  copy  conforming  to  the  original  Decree  that  the  King  has 
deigned  to  address  to  me.     Aranjuez,  May  28,  1798. 

"  Signed,        Saavedra. 

"  Copy  conforming  to  the  original. 

"  New  Orleans,  this  28th  February,  seventeen  hundred  and 
ninety  nine. 

"  Andres  Lopez,  Signature. 


294  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

The  latter  years  of  Trudeau's  administration  adds 
but  little  of  general  interest  to  our  annals.  Don 
Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos  had  succeeded  Baron  de 
C'arondelet  as  governor-general  below  in  1797.  He 
died  in  !N^ew  Orleans,  July  18,  1799,  and  the  Mar- 
quis de  Casa  Calvo,  came  over  from  Havana  to  act 
ad  interim. 

Trudeau's  administration  up  here  ended  on  Au- 
gust  29,    1799. 


COL.    CHARLES   DEHAULT   DELASSUS, 

who  had  been  commandant  at  New  Madrid  for  the 
previous  three  years,  and  whose  appointment  as 
lieutenant-governor  was  made  by  express  orders  from 
Spain,  succeeded  Gov.  Trudeau  on  the  same  day, 
August  29, 1799. 


GIFT  OF  ZENON  TRUDEAU  TO  THE  SONS  OF  JNO  B.  TRUDEAU. 

"  Be  it  known  by  this  indenture  that  I,  Don  Zenon  Trudeau, 
Lieut.  Colonel  and  Captain  of  grenadiers  of  the  Regiment  of 
Louisiana,  declare  that  I  am  under  grateful  acknowledgements  to 
to  Don  Juan  Bap'a  Trudeau,  schoolmaster  of  this  town,  he  having 
for  some  years  educated  my  numerous  family  with  particular 
care,  and  having  received  many  favors  at  his  hands,  and  being 
my  relative,  and  my  eldest  son,  Don  Renato,  being  god-father  to 
his  eldest  son,  Rene  Louis,  with  my  free  consent,  without  any 
inducement  nor  persuasion,  in  the  best  form  of  law,  and  well 
knowing  my  rights  in  such  cases,  I  acknowledge  and  declare  that 
I  make  a  pure  and  perfect  gift,  which  the  law  calls  '  intervivos,' 
and  irrevocable,  to  the  male  children  born,  and  to  be  born,  with 
the  exclusion  of  the  females,  of  the  said  Juan  Bap'a  Trudeau,  of 
four  hundred  dollars  which  he  owes  me,  which  I  advanced  for 
the  purchase  of  his  liouse,  and  now  henceforward  and  forever  I 
relinquish  and  abandon  all  right,  title,  actions  and  recourse  to 
the  said  four  hundred  dollars,  and  cede,  relinquish  and  transfer 
them  to  the  said  male  children  of  the  said  Juan  Baptiste  Trudeau, 
that  he  may  administer  the  same  during  their  minority,  and  that 
the  interest  thereof  be  applied  to  their  supj)port  and  education, 
without  touching  the  capital,  which  must  be  delivered  to  them 
entire  on  their  reaching  the  age  of  twenty-live  years,  or  when 

(295) 


296  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

their  father  may  think  them  capable  of  managing  their  property. 
And  I  grant  the  said  Trudeau  full  power  in  the  name  of  his  chil- 
dren, to  hold  possession  of  the  said  four  hundred  dollars.  And 
I  renounce  the  laws  of  large  and  general  donations  of  all  the 
property,  because  I  have  a  sufficiency  in  my  remaining  property, 
and  the  sum  donated  does  not  exceed  the  five  hundred  '  sueldos  ' 
of  gold  allowed  by  law,  and  should  it  exceed  this  I  empower  tlie 
said  Juan  Bap.  Trudeau,  and  any  other  person  he  may  appoint  to 
urge  the  same  before  the  competent  judge,  making  him  approve 
thereof,  and  interpose  his  authority  and  judicial  decree,  and  from 
this  moment  I  consider  the  same  acted  upon  and  executed  with 
the  necessary  solemnity,  and  request  that  any  deficiency  of 
clause  requisite,  or  circumstance  for  the  validity  thereof  be  sup- 
plied. 

"  And  I  swear  by  the  lord  our  God  and  by  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
that  I  will  not  revoke  by  deed,  will,  or  any  other  form  whatever, 
neither  tacitly  nor  expressedly,  nor  in  any  other  way,  although  al- 
lowed to  me  by  law,  and  should  I  do  so  (besides  not  being  heard 
in  law),  it  may  be  seen  that  I  approve  the  same  and  invalidate  it ; 
adding  strength  to  strength  and  contract  to  contract,  for  the  due 
performance  I  bind  my  person  and  goods  (estate),  actual  and 
future,  and  authorize  his  Majesty's  justices,  and  especially  those 
of  this  province,  to  whose  jurisdiction  I  submit  myself  and  goods, 
and  I  renounce  my  domicil  and  any  other  privilege  conceded  to 
me,  and  all  laws  and  privileges  in  my  favor  and  the  general  law 
that  I  be  compelled  thereto  as  if  sentence  had  been  given  in  the 
case,  and  with  my  consent. 

"  And  I,  the  said  Jno.  Bap.  Trudeau,  here  present,  acknowl- 
edge to  owe  the  said  Don  Zenon  Trudeau,  the  aforesaid,  four 
hundred  dollars,  and  in  the  name  of  my  male  children,  horn  and 
to  be  born,  I  accept  the  donation  to  be  used  as  above  stated,  and 
highly  esteem  the  kindness  conferred  on  me,  and  to  secure  to  my 
children  the  sum  to  them  donated  by  this  deed,  I  expressly  mort- 
gage a  dwelling  house  to  me  belonging,  situated  in  this  town, 
bounded  south  by  ground  of  Don  Bernard  Pratte,  east  (west)  by 
Main  street,  north  by  another  street  which  separates  it  from  the 
widow  Labbadie,  and  east  by  the  river  Mississippi,  which  is  my 
own  property,  and  was  paid  for  with  the  four  hundred  dollars 


ZENON  TRUDEAU  TO  SONS  OF  JNO.  B.  TRUDEAU.    297 

mentioned  in  this  deed,  and  free  from  any  other  incumbrance 
whatever,  and  I  now  bind  and  incumber  the  same  so  that  I  can 
not  sell  or  alienate  it  until  the  payment  of  the  said  four  hundred 
dollars,  and  anything  done  contrary  thereto  will  be  null,  and  ex- 
ecution can  be  issued  on  said  house,  and  I  empower  his  Majes- 
ty's justices,  and  especially  those  of  this  jurisdiction  to  whom  I 
submit  myself  and  goods,  and  I  renounce  my  domicil  (legal 
residence),  and  any  other  privilege  in  my  favour,  together  with 
all  laws  and  ordinances  in  my  favour,  and  the  general  laws  in  due 
form,  that  they  may  proceed  against  me  as  if  sentence  had  been 
given,  and  with  my  consent.  And  I,  Don  Carlos  Dehault  De- 
Lassus,  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  royal  army,  and  Lieut.  Gov- 
ernor of  the  western  part  of  Illinois,  bear  testimony  that  the 
contracting  parties  are  known  to  me,  that  they  executed  this  deed 
before  me,  in  default  of  a  notary  in  this  jurisdiction,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  attending  witnesses,  Don  Eugenio  Alvarez  and  Jo- 
seph Hortiz,,  and  the^'  signed  with  me  in  St.  Louis  in  Illinois 
the  eighteenth  day  of  the  month  of  October,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  ninety-nine. 

Zeno  Trudeau,  Jno.  Bap.  Trudead,  Joseph  Hortiz, 

Carlos  Dehault  Delassus. 

The  above  is  copied  verbatim  from  the  record  in 
the  archives.  The  translation  from  the  Spanish  is 
wretchedly  absurd  and  ridiculous,  rendering  the 
English  version  almost  incomprehensible. 

Under  the  French  and  Spanish  laws  of  the  olden 
time,  a  man  even  free  from  debt,  could  not  gra- 
tuitously give  away  his  property  beyond  a  certain 
amount,  the  one-half  being  in  law  the  property  of 
his  wife  and  children,  but  when  in  debt  his  whole 
property  was  held  to  be  mortgaged  for  his  debts, 
even  if  not  so  expressed  in  writing,  and  he  could  make 
no  legal  disposition  of  it  until  his  debts  were  paid. 


298  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

A  male  was  a  minor  until  the  age  of  25  years,  a 
female  until  20  years. 


MURDER  OF   ADA.M   HOUSE 

on  the  waters  of  the  Maramec,  by  Indians  in  1800:  — 

I.  Pierre  Treget,  commandant  at  Carondelet,  pursuant  to 
orders  from  Don  Carlos  Dehault  Delassus,  commandant  at  St. 
Louis,  repaired  to  tlie  Renault  Forks,  with  the  few  militia  men  I 
could  assemble,  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians ;  on  reaching  the  place, 
I  found  an  old  man  dead,  head  cut  off,  and  laid  at  his  side,  scalp 
taken  and  body  full  of  wounds  from  musket  shots,  and  a  few 
paces  off,  a  boy  8  or  9  3'ears  old,  head  cut  off  and  lying  near  him, 
face  smeared  with  blood,  with  a  small  piece  of  maple  sugar  in  bis 
mouth,  no  wound  on  his  body  from  either  musket  or  knife.  A 
dead  cow,  one  horn  carried  off,  dead  calf,  head  cut  off,  beds  in  the 
house  cut  to  pieces,  utensils  broken  and  strewed  about  the  house. 
"  Ascertained  the  murder  had  been  committed  by  the  Osages  ; 
buried  the  bodies,  not  known  at  the  time. 
"  Cabondklet,  March  19,  1800. 

"  PiEKKE  DE  Treget. 

"  Renault's  Forks,  March  25. 

"  I,  Pascal  Leon  Cerre,  Ensign  of  Militia,  repaired  to  the  above 
place  by  order  of  the  Governor,  where  I  ascertained  that  the  per- 
sons killed  were  Adam  House  and  Jacob  House,  his  son  —  from 
his  son  John,  14  j-ears  of  age,  who  escaped  wounded  by  a  musket 
shot,  and  finding  no  will  in  the  house  to  ascertain  his  disposition 
of  his  property,  I  appointed  as  witnesses  to  the  inventory  of  his 
effects,   John   Cummins   and    Joshua  Donald.     I   appointed   as 
guardian  of   the   minors,  Betsy,  John   and  Peggy  House,  Mr. 
Robert  Owen,  of  Marais  des  Liards  (Owens  Station). 
"  Matthew  Loud,  James  Ckaig,         Pascal  L.  Cerke, 
"  Andrew  Park,  John  Johnston,       Robert  Owen,  Ouardian. 
"  James  Gray,  Adam  Stroud,  John  Brown,  Security. 

"  JuDATiiAN   Kendall,  Thos.  Williams,  Jno.  Cummins  & 
"Jos' HA  McDonald,  Witnesses. 

"  Bart  Harrington,     Levi  Thiel  &  John  Jack,  Appraisers. 


EDWAKDS   VS.  KISHLER  209 

The  negro  fork  of  the  Meramec,  is  our  present 
Big  River,  which  is  a  large  branch  coming  into  the 
Meramec  on  tne  soiitli  side  in  Jefferson  County. 
Fourche  a  lienault  is  Renault's  fork,  or  minei-al  fork 
of  Big  river  in  Washington  C^ounty,  8  or  10  miles 
north-west  of  Mine  a  Burton,  now  Potosi. 

This  is  the  Renault  found  in  Gayarre  and  others, 
who  came  over  from  France  about  1722  with  a  large 
force  to  work  the  mines,  and  brought  the  bricks 
necessary  for  the  furnaces  from  Paris,  with  his 
name  on  them.  Cozens  unearthed  one  of  them  in 
surveying  in  that  locality  in  18 — . 


EDWARDS    versus    KISIILER. 

"John  Bishop  sworn,  saith  that  said  Edwards  embarked  in  said 
Kishler's  pirogue  at  the  forl\s  of  Lici<ing,  from  whence  said 
Edwards  was  only  a  passenger  to  Cincinnati,  at  which  place  he 
engaged  himself  to  said  Kishler  to  come  as  far  as  the  falls  of  Ohio, 
which  said  Edwards  performed  and  said  Kishler  paid  him  the  full 
hire,  wliich  said  Edwards  confessed  to  said  Bishop. 

"  That  said  Kishler  engaged  said  Edwards  again  at  the  falls  to 
come  in  his  Pirogue  to  the  Illinois,  but  that  he,  said  Bishop,  was 
not  present  at  the  bargain,  but  that  he  heard  said  Kishler  say  ia 
presence  of  said  Edwartis  tiiat  he,  said  Kishler,  was  to  give  to 
said  Eidwards  one  dollar  per  day  for  the  time  he  should  be  coming 
down  the  Ohio,  and  one  and  a  half  dollars  for  every  day  he  should 
be  ascending  tlie  ]Mississippi ;  that  the  said  Edwards  took  the 
charge  of  said  Pirogue  with  said  Kishler's  family,  the  Deponent 
with  his  family  being  also  of  the  Company,  that  they  all  left  the 
falls  in  said  Pirogue ;  said  Kishler  left  the  falls  the  day  before  by 
land,  and  they  left  the  falls  about  the  eighteenth  day  of  Septem- 
ber and  arrived  at  Misere  (St.  Genevieve)  the  twelfth  of  October, 


300  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

of  which  time  they  were  eleven  days  coming  from  Massac  to 
Misere ;  that  the  said  Pirogue  was  split  and  leaky  when  she  left 
Licking  &  that  they  were  obliged  to  repair  her  three  times  by  the 
way ;  that  said  Edwards  left  said  Pirogue  at  Massac  because  two 
of  the  hands  out  of  the  5  hands  he  had  were  detained  three  days 
in  prison,  during  which  interval  said  Edwards  made  a  bargain 
with  a  boat  that  was  coming  to  the  Illinois  for  a  passage  for  him- 
self and  followers,  and  that  said  f^dwards  could  not  sell  the 
Pirogue  for  more  than  one  dollar,  for  which  reason  he  made  a 
hole  in  her  and  sunk  her. 

"  Mrs.  Bishop  sworn  and  confirms  the  above. 

"Miss  Polly  Jones  sworn,  and  saith  she  knoweth  nothing  re- 
lating to  the  before  mentioned  affair. 

"  Nathaniel  Porter  sworn,  and  saith  that  he  was  sometimes  in 
company  with  said  Edwards,  and  that  he  could  not  perceive  that 
said  Edwards  lost  any  time  by  neglect,  that  the  Pirogue  appeared 
to  go  as  well  as  that  of  the  deponent,  and  that  he  left  said 
Edwards  above  Massac. 

"Mrs.  Griives  sworn,  and  saith  that  said  Edwards  told 
her  at  Creve  Cojur  that  he  had  no  bargain  with  said  Kish- 
ler,  but  that  he  intended  to  charge  him  only  eighteen  dollars, 
besides  six  dollars  that  he  laid  out  on  account  of  Kishler's 
family. 

"  Sworn  and  examined  before  me  this  18th  day  of  March,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred. 

"  Santiago  Mackay,  Capt.  Comd't. 

"We  the  arbitrators  find  for  Plaintiff,  sixty  two  dollars,  our 
judgment  divided  in  respect  of  the  Pirogue. 

James  Green  and  Sam'l  Culbertson. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Porter  being  chosen  as  a  third  to  assist  the 
two  other  arbitrators  Mr.  James  Green  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Culbertson,  they  have  determined  that  the  plaintiff  shall  pay 
to  the  said  Kishler,  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  for  the  said 
Pirogue  out  of  the  sixty-two  dollars  which  is  given  in  favor 
of  the  said  Edwards  consequently  the  said  Kishler  is  now  and 


ACTION  AGAINST  AI0SE8  MOODEY.  301 

hereby  indebted  to  the  said  Edwards  in  the  sum  of  forty  two 

dollars. 

"  James  Gkeen, 
"  St.  Andrew,  March  18,  1800.  Sam'l  Cui.beutson, 

"Approved,  Santiago  Mackay.  Natiian'l  Pouter." 


ACTION   AGAINST   MOSES   MOODEY, 

of  St.  Ferdinand,  for  breach  of  the  peace,  and  his 
imprisonment  for  the  same. 

Francois  Dunegant  dit  Bcaurosier  was  the  first 
commandant  at  the  village  from  about  1780  until  the 
transfer. 

His  complaint  against  Moodey  : 

"  St.  Ferdinand,  March  9,  1800. 
"Sir:  Mr.  Griffin  came  to  my  liouse  in  the  night,  between 
Sunday  and  Monday  the  Dth  inst.,  to  complain  against  Moses 
Moodey,  who  had  been  living  with  him  about  fifteen  days.  Mr. 
Moodey  came  home  between  11  and  12  o'clock  at  night,  and 
asked  Mr.  Griffin's  son  '  if  his  father  and  sisters  were  in  bed, 
because  he  wanted  his  things,'  to  which  Mr.  Griffin's  son  replied 
'yes,  they  had  gone  to  bed,'  notwithstanding  he  entered  Mr. 
Griffin's  room  and  demanded  of  the  girls  his  clothes,  and  one  of 
the  Miss  Griffins  replied  that  his  things  were  ready  excei)t  a  shirt 
not  yet  washed ;  then  he  said  to  Mv.  Griffin  that  he  wanted  to 
settle  for  the  time  he  had  been  boarding  there.  Mr.  G.  then 
said  to  him  that  it  was  not  the  proper  time  to  settle,  and  that  he 
would  see  him  again  —  but  Mr.  Moodey  determined  to  know  how 
much  he  owed  to  ]\Ir.  Griffin,  reiterated  his  demand,  to  which  Mr. 
Griffin  replied,  '  I  made  a  trip  for  you  to  Meramec  which  took 
me  about  three  days,  about  fifteen  days'  board  for  yourself  and 
horse,  the  making  up  of  several  articles  for  you,  and  your  wash- 
ing, is  altogether  well  worth  twenty  dollars.'     Mr.  Moodey  flew 


302  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

into  ft  violent  passion,  saying,  'you  want  to  ruin  me,'  and  draw- 
ing two  pistols  from  his  belt,  presenteil  one  to  Mr.  GrilUn's  breast 
and  the  other  to  ills  wife.  GrifHn  seeing  his  life  and  that  of  his 
wife  menaced,  sprang  upon  Moodey,  who  eluded  his  grasp  and 
escaped,  and  Griffin  says  Doct.  Wallis  witnessed  it  all. 

"  I  at  once  ordered  six  militia  men  to  arrest  Mr.  Moodey,  who 
brought  him  to  me,  and  not  having  here  a  sure  place  to  keep  him, 
I  send  him  to  you  in  the  custody  of  two  of  the  militia,  that  you 
may  exercise  your  discretion  in  the  matter. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

"  Your  very  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"  F.   DUNEGANT. 

"To  Mr.  CiiAULES  Dehault  Delassus." 

"  Moodey  was  put  in  prison,  and  Governor  Delas- 
sus being  at  the  time  otherwise  engaged,  he  com- 
missioned his  adjutant  Capt.  Soulai'd  to  act  in  his 
stead,  wlio  repaired  to  tlie  ])lace,  and  in  the  presence 
of  Dunegant  and  other  witnesses,  took  the  deposi- 
tions of  WilHani  Griffin  and  wife  Barbara,  and 
daughters  Susie  and  Margaret  and  Doct.  Geo. 
Wallis,  James  Richardson,  Interpreter,  and  Robert 
Owen,  Syndic  of  Marais  des  Liards,  witnesses. 

"After  a  month's  imprisonment  Moodey  addressed  a  petition 
to  Gov.  De  Lassus,  April  7,  1800,  '  acknowledging  his  offence 
which  he  much  regretted  it  being  his  first,  under  ihe  influence  of 
liquor,  proposing  to  pay  all  the  costs,  and  asking  to  be  liberated, 
promising  to  so  conduct  himself  in  future  as  to  give  no  cause  of 
complaint. 

' '  Signed  Moses  Moodet. 

"Under  the  circumstances,  and  with  the  acquiescence  of 
Griffin,  who  joined  in  the  petition,  he  was  pardoned  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  released. 


COLGIN    VS.  LYONS.  IJOS 

' '  Copy  of  the  costs  of  Justice : 

Dollar. 
Gov.'sfces  —  hlsdecree and  signature  to  Adjt.  Soulard 8  reals  1  00 
Siuue.  his  sentence  and  signature  8    "      1  00 

Same.  Sitting  occupied  In  reading  alfUlavits      22    "      2  75 

Tax  on  the  costs  of  12  pages,  a  real  for  4  pages  3    "         374 

Signature  to  the  bill  of  costs  4  45         60    5.624 


For  Adjt,  Soulard  —  A  day's  journey  out  of  the  town 

(4  ducatsj  44  5  50 

Horse  and  feed  each  8  reals  16  2  00 

2  Sittings  taking  allldavits  —  2  ducats 

each  44  6  60 

84  pages  manuscript  writing,  2  reals 

page  17  2  124 

8  signatures— 4  reals  each  32  153.   4  19.124 


198  reals.    «24.75 


■TOHN   COLGIN   VS.  KICHAKD   LYONS,  AT   ST.  ANDUK. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Porter  Deposeth  that  lie  herrd  John  Colgiu  say 
that  he  could  whip  Lyons  if  he  would  come  out,  and  tliat  Lyons 
went  out  and  he  saw  them  enclosed,  and  heard  Colgin  say  that 
Lyons  was  biting  him,  that  he  ran  to  part  them,  and  that  Lyons 
had  let  Colgin  go,  and  that  both  of  them  wore  in  liquor. 

"David  Cole  Deposeth  that  he  heard  Colgin  and  Lyons  quar- 
relling and  that  they  were  stripi)cd  to  fight,  and  then  he  thought 
they  had  made  it  ui),  that  he  saw  Lyons  strike  Colgin  once,  and 
then  they  quarreled  again  and  he  hoard  Colgin  saj'  if  Lyons  would 
fight  him  a  fair  fight,  he  would  fight  him,  that  they  then  went  in 
the  iiouse  and  wanted  Lyons  to  make  friends,  and  he  would  not, 
that  he  heard  Lyons  sa}'  ho  would  complain  against  Colgin  to 
government,  and  then  they  quarrel  again,  and  he  heard  Colgin 
say  he  could  whip  Lyons  the  best  day  he  ever  saw,  and  then  he 
said  Lyons  struck  Colgin  twice,  and  then  they  enclosed  again, 
and  he  heard  Colgin  say,  Lyons  you  have  bit  me. 

"  Bery  Jones  Deposeth  that  he  heard  them  quarreling,  and  that 
he  saw  Lyons  catch  Colgin  by  the  face,  and  then  they  stripped 
to  fight,  and  he  heard  Colgin  say  he  could  whip  Lyons  the  best 


30-4  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

day  lio  ever  saw  if  he  would  flglit  him  fair,  and  tiien  tliey  went  in 
the  house,  and  tliat  I  tiien  started  home,  and  after  Colgin  said  lie 
could  whi|»  Lyons  that  Lyons  said  you  must  do  it  now  and  that 
he 'saw  Lyons  strike  colgin  twice  and  then  they  enclosed,  and  he 
saw  Colgin  fall  and  said  Lyons  had  bit  him  and  that  Piisloy  asked 
Lyons  if  he  gouged  him  and  said  no  and  then  he  ast  him  if  he  bit 
him  and  Lyons  said  it  was  another  man's  business  and  that  they 
I  believe  they  ware  both  in  liquor  and  that  colgin  wanted  to  drink 
friends  and  that  Lyons  said  he  would  complain  to  the  Govern- 
ment. 

"  George  Pusley  Deposeth  that  he  was  In  company  with  colgin 
and  lyons  and  others  and  that  they  ware  all  drinking  and  he  saw 
lyons  andj  colgin  enclos'd  and  fighting  and  that  he  helped  to 
part  them  they  both  went  out  of  the  house  and  striped  to  fight 
and  neither  of  them  would  strike  and  tlien  tliey  went  into  the 
house  and  then  we  all  started  to  go  home  and  in  the  yard  I  heard 
colgin  say  lyons  I  can  whip  you  tlie  day  j'ou  ever  saw  and  that 
I  saw  Ij'ons  draw  his  fist  and  strike  at  colgin  twice  and  colgin 
cauglit  Lyons  l)y  the  I)reast  and  they  pusht  one  another  about 
and  Colgin  fell  and  we  ran  to  part  them  and  Lyons  got  of  Colgin 
and  I  askt  lyons  if  he  gouged  him  he  said  no.  I  then  asked 
him  if  he  bitjhim  he  said  that  was  another  man's  matter  and  that 
I  believe  tliey  were  both  in  liquor. 

"  Wm.  Tardy  Deposeth  that  he  heard  Lyons  and  Colgin  quarrel- 
ing and  he  saw  lyons  strike  colgin  and  was  then  parted  and  then 
they  both  strii)t  andjwent  out  to  figlit  and  I  heard  colgin  say  he 
could  whip  lyonsjand  they  started  to  go  home  I  saw  them  both  a 
fighting,  and  believe  they  were  both  iu  liquor. 

"As  it  appears  to  us  J.  Mackay  command't  of  this  District  that 
the  s.aid  Lyons  is  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the  Peace  in  a  striking 
manner  we  have  ordered  him  to  pay  to  said  Jolin  Colgin  the  sum 
of  Eighteen  Dollars  Peltries,  besides  Two  Dollars  and  half  dollar 
silver  Costs  to  Mr.  Richard  Caulk  and  Two  Dollars  to  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter, Sergeant  of  the  Gard  after  which  he  is  discharged. 

"J.  Mackat. 
"  St.  AndrI,  Jan'y  29th.  1801." 

"  Whereas,  I  Richard  Caulk  Assistant  to  Santiago  Macky  and 
by  his  instruction  have  attended  at  St.  Andre  to  hear  a  complaint 


BELL  VS.  COLGIN.  305 

of  John  Colgin  against  Daniel  Lyons  and  he  said  Lyons  lias 
absconded  himself  from  tryal  and  the  substance  of  the  evidence 
appears  to  be  against  him  I  do  by  tliesc  presents  in  tiie  name  of 
his  Majesty  the  King  of  Spain  sc'v/ai  all  the  property  of  the  snid 
Daniel  Lyon  in  behalf  of  the  complainant  and  his  creditors 
until  further  tryal  consisting  of  —  one  yoke  of  oxen  pied,  and 
one  cow,  five  chisels,  and  one  gouce,  four  files,  and  two 
rasps,  four  plains,  two  stocks  of  plains,  and  one  plain  bit,  one 
gimlet,  one  pair  of  compasses  and  one  saw  set,  and  two 
gages,  one  kettle  of  17  gallons  at  ace  Musick,  and  one  cappo  that 
Gibson  left  there  and  one  wood  all  one  handsaw  one  smoothing 
plain  two  lots  one  formerly  the  property  of  George  Pursley  and 
the  other  the  property  David  Cole  one  pair  saddle  bags  which 
property  I  deliver  into  the  hands  and  care  of  Christopher  Carpen- 
ter as  Sargent  of  the  guard  of  this  District  in  behalf  of  gover- 
ment. 

"  Received  by  order  of  Richard  Caulk  in  behalf  of  government 
the  above  mentioned  articles  by  me. 

' '  CURISTOPHEU  CaBPENTSR. 

"Asa  Musiok, 
♦'Michael  Udom. 


WM.  BELL  VS.  JOHN   COLOIN. 

"  Before  us  J.  Mackay  comraand't  of  the  District  of  St.  Andri, 
appeared  William  Bell,  inhabitant  of  this  said  District  who  has 
brought  the  following  charges  against  John  Colgin  also  an  inhabi- 
tant of  this  District,  to  wit:  The  said  Wm.  Bell  (Plaintiff)  saith 
that  the  said  John  Colgin  (defendant)  in  the  beginning  of  January 
last  at  the  House  of  Mrs.  Henry  abused  him  with  much  bad  lan- 
guage that  he  called  him  a  damned  lyar  and  that  he  could  prove 
it  —  and  that  he  had  his  Hogs  &  cast  him,  and  he  shook  bis  tomi- 
hawk  over  his  head.  To  support  the  said  charges  the  Plaintiff 
brought  the  following  evidences,  John  Ridenhour  who  hath  sworn 
on  the  holy  Evangelist  that  about  the  beginning  of  Jan'y  last 
that  he  was  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Henry  in  company  with  the 
Plaintiff  and  Defendant  and  Mordicai  Bell  and  others  and  that  on 

20 


30(>  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

a  (lispiito  butwucn  the  Defendant  John  Colfi;in  and  Morducai,  the 
phiintiff  William  Bell  interfered  by  talking  in  favor  of  said  Mor- 
decai  Bell  on  which  said  defendant  called  tlie  Plaintiff  a  lyar  and 
that  he  would  call  hitn  a  lyar  when  he  pleased  and  tiiat  he  east 
bim  and  that  he  had  his  bogs  and  that  the  Defcndatit  shook  his 
tomiliawk  over  his  head,  on  which  the  Plaintiff  called  witness  and 
said  that  his  bogs  should  come  home,  and  further  he  saith  not. 
John  Murphy  who  hath  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelist  that  on  a 
quarrel  between  John  Colgin  and  Mordecai  Bell,  the  said  Wm. 
Bell  said  that  Mordecai  was  not  fit  to  fight  with  Colgin  because 
that  he  was  lame  and  that  said  Colgin  said  to  the  Plaintiff  Wm. 
Bell  that  he  was  a  lyar. 

"  Mrs.  Colvin  sworn  saith  that  some  time  after  the  trial  in  the 
winter  before  last  John  Colgin  and  John  Bell  quarreled  at  her 
bouse  and  that  on  Joiin  Bells  making  some  reflections  on  the  de- 
fendant the  said  defendant  answered.  I  suppose  you  want  to 
make  me  out  a  hog  thief  because  I  took  2  of  your  father's  pigs 
to  which  said  Jno.  Bell  son  to  the  plaintiff  replyed  that  he  did 
not  call  bim  a  hog  thief,  but  he  thouglit  it  was  the  next  thing 
to  it. 

'^  Dan  Ricbison  sworn  saith  that  on  the  same  night,  as  specified 
in  John  Ridenhours  affidavit,  be  was  at  Mrs.  Henry's  bouse  where 
be  beard  the  Defendant  John  Coligen  say  to  the  Defendant  be 
was  a  lyar  and  recorded  such  that  be  could  prove  it  and  that  be 
bad  bis  hogs. 

"John  Carpenter  sworn  saith  that  be  was  at  Mrs.  Henry's 
house  when  the  said  Bell  and  Coligen  quarreled  and  that  Coligen 
called  Bell  a  lyar  and  he  could  prove  it,  that  be  was  a  damned 
hog  and  might  go  and  stay  with  bis  hogs. 

"  Nathaniel  Porter  sworn  saith  that  be  heard  John  Colgin  say 
to  Wm.  Bell,  to  hell  with  the  lying  Bells. 

"  Seeing  by  the  testimony  taken  and  examined,  as  before  men- 
tioned, that  said  Colgin  was  in  tbe  wrong.  We  have  condemned 
the  defendant  John  Coligen  to  pay  said  Wm.  Bell,  ten  dollars  in 
Peltries  and  twelve  dollars  in  peltries  for  the  costs. 

"  St.  ANDBi,  the  19th  Feb'y,  1801. 

"J.  Mackat." 


SAMUEL  PALUS.  307 


AOUEEMENT   TO   MARRY. 

"  Upper  Louisiana  the  year  one  thousand  eijjht  Imndrcd  and  one^ 
the  first  day  of  April.  Before  me  Don  Jamea  Mnckay,  commandant 
of  St.  Andre  of  Missouri,  were  present  William  Tardy  and  Madame 
Joanah  Henry,  inhabitants  of  this  district  of  St.  Andrew,  who 
hereby  declare  that  being  on  the  point  of  being  married  together, 
their  marriage  contract  has  been  agreed  on,  made  and  concluded 
on  the  following  conditions  viz:  the  said  Madame  Henry  declares 
by  this,  that  neither  the  said  Mr.  Tardy,  nor  his  creditors,  nor 
any  person  whatever  on  the'r  part,  never  had  any  right,  nor  pow- 
er to  sell,  or  dispose  of  in  any  manner,  none  of  the  effects,  or 
property  belonging  to  said  Madame  Henry,  which  consists  of  four 
cows,  two  young  steers,  one  heifer,  three  calves,  sixty  hogs, 
a  furnished  bed,  two  iron  pots,  an  oven,  six  crockery  plates,  two 
pewter  dishes,  two  sad-irons,  a  spinning  wheel,  the  above  articles 
with  all  the  produce  in  future,  being  by  right  Mrs.  Henry's 
property,  are  confirmed  to  her  and  her  sucessors  by  this  contract 
forever.  And  it  is  declared  hereby, that  neither  their  marriage, nor 
any  other  pretext,  gives  any  right  to  said  Tardy,  or  any  other 
person,  over  the  articles  above  mentioned,  and  that  said  Madame 
Henry  alone  has  any  right  to  dispose  of  as  she  thinks  fit,  any  of 
the  above  articles.  And  said  Mr.  Tardy  declares  that  he  accepts 
all  the  above  conditions. 

In  testimony  whereof  the  contracting  parties  have  signed  with 
their  marks,  in  presence  of  witnesses  and  I  the  commandant. 

his 
HcGH  Graham  William  x  Tardy. 

mark 
her 
Samuel  Graham.  Joanah  x  Hbnry. 

mark 
James  Mackat. 


In   the   year  1801,  the  northeast   portion  of  this 
county,  north  of  the  present  village  of  Baden,  was  un- 


308  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

del*  the  charge  of  one  Edmund  Hodges,  an  unedu- 
cated but  efficient  man,  as  supervisor  for  Gov. 
Delassus  of  that  portion  of  this  district.  Tiie  Spanish 
Pond,  12  miles  due  north  of  St.  Louis,  then  the  res- 
idence of  Jacques  De  St.  Vrain,  a  brother  of  Gov. 
Delassus,  was  the  central  point  in  the  surrounding 
settlements. 

A  young  man  named  Samuel  Fallis,  whose  parents 
lived  across  the  Missouri  in  St.  Charles  county,  spent 
much  of  his  time  in  this  district.  For  some  time 
back  a  number  of  horses  had  been  missing  from  the 
pastures  of  some  of  the  inhabitants,  which  at  first 
were  supposed  to  be  stolen  by  rovuig  Indians  from 
both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  but  from  certain  cir- 
cumstances that  subsequently  transpired,  Fallis  was 
strongly  suspected  of  being  a  party  to  their  dis- 
appearance ;  thereupon  he  was  apprehended  by 
Hodges  assisted  by  others  and  brought  to  St.  Louis, 
where,  after  an  examination  by  Gov.  Delassus,  he  was 
committed  to  prison  August  20th,  1801,  to  await  his 
trial,  pending  which  the  following  petition  was  pre- 
pared and  presented  to  the  governor :  — 

*'  To   Don   Chas.  Dehault  Delassus,  Lieutenant  Oovemor   of 
Upper  Louisiana  : 

"  Sib. — Isaac  Fallis  and  Susan  Fallis  petitioners,  have  the  honor 
to  represent  to  you,  with  all  the  respect  which  is  your  due,that  the 
detention  of  their  son  Samuel,  causes  them  g:eat  injury,  seeing 
that  he  is  the  one  of  their  children  who  is  their  greatest  help  in 
their  old  age. 


SAMUEL  FALLIS.  309 

''Your  petitioners  are  far  from  excusing  tlieir  child,  he  is  no 
doubt  guilty  since  the  law  has  punished  him  severely ;  but  Sir, 
will  you  not  allow  yourself  to  be  softened  by  the  tears  of  a  whole 
virtuous  family,  afflicted  by  the  misdeed  of  one  of  its  members, 
who  all  his  life  had  been  brought  up  in  correct  principles,  with 
which  they  are  themselves  penetrated.  Cannot  the  rigors  of  the 
law  be  softened  on  behalf  of  a  son  who  was  always  correct  up  to 
the  moment  when,  perhaps  misled  and  encouraged  by  evil  advice, 
he  wandered  from  the  straight  path  of  duty,  and  brought  grief  to 
the  bosom  of  his  family,  your  heart  is  compassionate  Sir,  allow 
mercy  to  act  in  behalf  of  a  father  and  mother,  be  pleased  as  judge 
to  ameliorate  the  law  whicli  condemns  our  son,  deign  to  grant 
pardon  to  Samuel  Fallis,  not  alone  to  his  parents  but  also  to  the 
honest  inhabitants  who  join  with  us  to  obtain  it  from  your  clem- 
ency ;  Samuel  Fallis  raised  in  the  principles  of  an  honest  man, 
will  easily  recover  from  the  correction  you  inflicted  on  him,  the 
punishment  from  which  he  will  escape  but  by  an  especial  favour 
is  almost  a  certain  guarantie  that  he  will  in  the  future  conduct 
himself  as  he  should,  his  parents  may  venture  to  be  responsible  to 
you  on  that  score,  and  cheerfully  pledge  themselves  to  pay  all  the 
costs,  which  their  son  may  have  occasioned  by  his  misconduct. 

St.  Louis  Sept.  20th,  1801. 
Isaac  Fallis,  Alexander  Clark,      Joseph  Todd, 

Susanna  Fallis,         Robert  Owen,  James  De  St.  Vkain, 

Wm.  Patterson,        James  Mitchels,  Samuel  Duncan, 

John  Brown,  Hezekiah  Crosby,       Louis  Labeaume, 

"This  may  certify  that  I  know  no  harm  of  him  or  any  of  the 
family  before  this.  Samuel  Griffeth. 

M.  James  Du  B.  Brown. 

"  I  John  Lar  do  Her  sartify  that  I  Never  Heard  Anything  of 
thay  family  Till  this  Time  «&c.  Amos  Richardson. 

"This  may  Certify  that  1  Never  New  any  harm  of  him  before 
tliis.  Vincent  Carrico. 

"Mr.  Samuel  f  alas  Dr.  to  Edmund  Hodges,  August  the  4d  1801 
By  sining  one   pirtision  for  Mr.  piper  to  fetch  Mr.  fa'as  Be- 
fore us  to  answer  to  Mr.  piper's  complaint  D.  S. 

0.  4.    0 


310  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

for  one  Days  tendance  on  a  troial 

for  one  tachment  to  take  Mr.  f alas  bom 

By  going  2  Leags  to  Serve  the  tachment 

for  going  one  Day  me  and  hors  after  Mr.  falas  to  take  him 

19  of  august,  1801 

By  one  order  to  take  mr.  falas  to  St.  Lewey 

By  going  Down  with  Mr.  falas  2  days  to  St.  Lewey  7  Leags 

By  going  with  old  Mr.  falas  to  St.  Lewey  2  days  7  Leags 

the  above  is  a  verbatim  copy  of  Mr.  Hodges  bill  of  costs  — 

"Samuel  Dunken  and  William  Heart  and  Larance  Huf  and 
Ira  Nash  you  are  Comanded  to  gow  and  take  Amos  Dunken  and 
Conway  to  Sant  Luis  and  ameadatly,  fale  not,  given  under  my 
hand  this  14  day  of  March  1801. 

'*  Edmund  Hodges,  Comander. 

Translation. 

"  Regiment  of  Infantry  of  Louisiana,  District  of  Illinois. 

"  Statement  shewing  the  time  the  Englishman  named  Folis  was 
fed  by  the  company  of  this  Post  in  this  Fort  of  St.  Louis,  having 
entered  it  August  20th  and  left  on  Sept.  22nd  1801  —  33  days  at 
two  reals  a  day  —  amount  in  dollars  $8.25. 

•'  St.  Louis,  July  3,  1802. 

"  Juan  Robatma,  Serg't. 

The  confidence  of  his  parents  in  the  future  good 
conduct  of  their  son  was  verified,  as  we  find  him  a 
few  years  later  purchasing  from  Adam  Brown  a  farm 
of  140  acres  near  Owen's  Station  at  $4  per  acre, 
$560.  A  brother,  Geo.  Fallis  had  a  large  farm  in 
the  St.  Ferdinand  prairie. 


SARPY   VS.  SAFFRAY. 


"  To  all  who  shall  see  these  present  letters,  greeting: 

'•  Be  it  known  that  before  us  Don  Thomas Portell,  Captain  of  In- 
fantry in  the  Stationary  Regiment  of  Louisiana,  and  civil  and 


I 


SARPY  VS.  SAFFRAY.  311 

military  commandant  of  the  District  of  New  Madrid,  residing  at 
Fort  Celeste,  undersigned,  was  present  Mr.  Saffray,  an  inhabitant 
of  this  district,  who  acknowleges  that  he  is  indebted  to  Mr. 
Joseph  O'Neille  residing  usually  at  St.  Louis,  of  the  Illinois,  at 
present  in  this  town,  in  the  sum  of  three  thousand,  six  hundred 
and  thirteen  livres,  eighteen  sols,  for  goods  advanced  him  in  this 
Post  up  till  the  twelfth  of  May,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  ninety-four,  which  said  sum  of  three  thousand,  six  hundred 
and  thirteen  livres,  eighteen  sols  tournois,  said  Peter  Saffray 
promises  and  binds  himself  to  pay  to  said  Mr.  O'Neille,  or  holder 
of  this  present  bond,  in  one  year  from  this  day  in  current  money 
of  this  place  of  New  Madrid,  under  penalty  of  all  losses,  costs, 
damages  and  interests. 

"And  to  further  secure  said  Joseph  O'Neille  the  payment  due 
him  by  said  Saffray,  he  by  these  presents  has  bound  and  hypothe- 
cated for  security  of  said  sum,  —  first,  a  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides,  situated  at  the  place  called  Lake  St.  Isidor,  with  all 
buildings  and  appurtenances  now  on  it  or  which  may  be  in  future. 
Secondly,  a  town  house  on  a  lot  of  forty  foot  front  on  the  public 
place  in  New  Madrid,  by  the  usual  depth  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty,  also  three  pairs  of  oxen,  two  cows  and  twelve  hogs  which 
said  Saffray  now  owns,  and  also  all  the  other  effects  which  he  may 
acquire  up  to  the  date  of  the  payment  of  this  bond,  and  all  the 
animals  he  may  acquire  in  any  way  from  now  to  the  same  time, 
said  Saffray  consenting  to  make  no  sale  of  said  effects  nor 
animals  until  the  said  sum  of  three  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirteen  livres,  eighteen  sols  tournois,  which  he  owes  to  said  Mr. 
O'Neille,  are  fully  paid  to  him,  or  to  the  holder  of  the  present 
obligation.  However,  said  Joseph  O'Neille  hereby  consents,  that 
if  said  Mr.  Pierre  Saffray  finds  opportunity  to  sell  the  house  in  town 
above  designated,  he  may  do  it,  provided  that  the  proceeds  of 
the  same  be  converted  into  live  stock  for  the  advantage  of  the 
farm  of  said  Saffray,  said  live  stock  representing  said  house  will 
remain  bound  for  the  payment  of  said  sum  due  to  Mr.  O'Neille. 

"Executed  at  Fort  Celeste  of  New  Madrid,  April  second,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  four,  Peter  Anthony  Laforge, 
commissary  of  police  of  that  town,  and  John  Barna  y  ferru  Sola, 
at  present  in  this  town  of  New  Madrid,  being  witnesses,  who  have 


312  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

with  said  O'Neille  and  Saffray,  signed  these  presents,  thus  signed 
at  the  moment. 

"  P.  Saffray,  John  Barna  y  ferru  Sola,  Jh  O'Neille, 
"Peter  A.  Laforge. 

"  Before  me,  the  commandant,  Thomas  Portell. 

"I  certify  that  the  present  is  a  copy  of  the  original  in  the 
archives  of  this  command  of  Fort  Celeste  of  New  Madrid,  April 
4,  1795. 

"Thomas  Portell. 

"The  year  eighteen  hundred  and  two,  the  thirteenth  of  Jan- 
uary, I,  Peter  A.  Laforge,  discharging  the  functions  of  notary  at 
this  poste  of  New  Madrid,  have  informed  and  notified  Mr. 
Gabriel  Cerre  of  the  decision  rendered  by  M.  the  commandant  of 
New  Madrid,  this  day,  at  the  bottom  of  the  petition  presented  to 
him.  And  I  have  also  informed,  notified  and  given  a  copy  to  Mr. 
Peter  Saffray  at  his  known  residence  in  this  village,  at  the  house 
occupied  by  Mr.  Francis  Pasquin,  verbally  to  said  Pasquin  in 
person,  of  the  petition  of  Mr.  Cerre  against  him  dated  the  twelfth 
of  this  month,  and  the  order  given  in  consequence  by  the  com- 
mandant of  this  poste  the  next  day,  the  thirteenth,  so  that  all  said 
gentlemen  may  be  informed,  and  conform  to  it. 

"In  testimony  of  which  I  have  signed  said  copy  and  this  one. 

"Peter  Anthony  Laforge." 


INQUEST   on   the   BODY   OF   JOSEPH   BATES,  DROWNED. 

"In  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  the  7th  day  of  the  month 
of  July,  of  the  year  oi.e  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two. 

"I,  Don  Joseph  Horttiz,  performing  the  functions  of  notary 
public  in  the  place,  being  informed  from  Seuor  Don  Carlos 
Dehault  Delassus,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  this  upper  Louisiana, 
that  at  the  lower  end  of  the  town  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  a  body  had  been  washed  ashore.  By  order  of  said  Gov 
ernor,  being  in  the  Royal  Service,  I  repaired  to  the  place  indicated, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Francois  Valois  and  Joseph  Robidoux,  Jr., 


INQUEST  OF  PAHISIEN.  313 

to  examine  and  identify  the  body  which  we  found  on  the  river 
bank  opposite  the  residence  of  Pierre  Gueret  Dumont,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  examination,  which  consumed  much  time  to  find  any 
one  who  could  identify  it,  when  Calvin  Adams,  of  this  town,  de- 
clared that  it  was  the  body  of  an  American  named  John  or  Joseph 
Bates,  who  worked  for  his  living  in  the  settlement  of  St.  Andre, 
on  the  Missouri,  in  this  district,  who  had  a  brother  in  said  settle- 
ment, and  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  about  five  or  six  weeks  ago, 
a  pirogue  was  destroyed  and  washed  ashore  at  Cahokia. 

"Thereupon  said  Adams  went  to  the  Governor  with  the  permis- 
sion of  Father  Pedro  Janin,  curate  of  this  parisli,  to  procure  a 
coffin  for  said  body,  which  was  taken  to  the  (;emetery  and  there 
interred  the  same  day. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  and  by  direction  of  the  Governor,  this 
certificate,  signed  and  attested  by  the  witnesses  and  myself,  was 
made  to  serve  if  needed. 

"Jos.  C.  RoBiDOUx,   Fran's  Valois,   Joseph  Horttiz, 

Delassus. 


inquest  on  pakisien. 

"In  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  this  13th  day  of  July, 
eighteen  hundred  and  two:  I,  Joseph  Horttiz,  notary  of  this 
town,  by  order  of  Don  Carlos  Dchault  Delassus,  Lieut.  Colonel, 
exercising  the  functions  of  Lieut.  Governor  of  this  Upper  Louisi- 
iana,  having  received  information  that  a  dead  body  was  discov- 
ered floating  in  the  Mississippi  river,  between  the  plantations  of 
Mr.  Joseph  Brazeau  and  James  Coburn,  about  three-fourths  of  a 
league  south  of  the  village,  I  repaired  to  the  place,  accompanied 
by  Francis  Valois  and  Auguste  Chereau,  witnesses,  to  identify  the 
body,  which  proved  to  be  that  of  an  Indian  named  Pierre  Parisien, 
who  lived  at  the  establishment  of  St.  Charles  of  the  Missouri,  and 
who,  as  we  had  heard  from  Don  Carlos  Tayon,  had  gone  fishing 
on  the  9th  of  the  previous  month,  June,  and  had  never  been  heard 
from.  With  the  assistance  of  four  men  the  body  was  drawn  from 
the  river,  which  being  in  too  putrified  a  condition  to  be  taken  to 
the  village,  a  grave  was  dug  on  the  spot  to  the  depth  of  five  feet, 
and  the  corpse  buried  therein,  and  a  cross  placed  at  the  head  of 


314  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  grave ;  all  thia  in  ray  presence.     There  being  neither  wounds 

nor  bruises  found  on  his  body,  it  was  declared  to  be  a  case  of 

accidental  death. 

*'  AuoDSTE  Chereac,  Francis  Vaxois, 

"Approved  same  day.  Joseph  Hobttiz,  Not'y. 

"De  Lassus. 


MOTARD  ft  LOISEL. 


"  In  the  town  of  St.  Louis,  of  the  Illinois,  this  29th  day  of  the 
month  of  October,  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  two:  We, 
Joseph  Motard  and  Regis  Loisel,  citizens  of  this  town,  have 
agreed  with  the  present  knowledge  and  consent  of  Mr.  Charles  De- 
bault  Delassus,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  to  come 
to  submit  ourselves  to  an  arbitration  in  regard  to  the  boarding  of 
Joseph  Motard  at  Regis  Loisel' s,  as  also  some  other  matter  of 
interest  that  there  is  to  settle,  and  for  this  purpose  they 
have  appointed  for  arbitrators,  Charles  Sanguinet  and  Manuel 
Moro,  the  first  for  me,  Joseph  Motard,  and  the  other  for  Regis 
Loisel,  to  whose  judgment  and  decision  we  will  conform  in  all, 
and  if  the  said  arbitrators  disagree,  and  come  not  to  one  mind, 
it  will  then  be  passed  over  to  the  Lieut.  Governor,  to  the  end 
that  he  be  pleased  to  decide  it  by  a  third  arbitrator.  In  testi- 
mony whereof,  we  have  signed  these  presents,  the  day  and  year 
above. 

Joseph  Motard.  Regis  Loisel. 

"We,  Charles  Sanguinet  and  Manuel  Moro,  arbitrators 
chosen  by  Joseph  Motard  and  Regis  Loisel,  after  having  heard 
the  two  parties  in  a  strict  examination  of  their  arguments  and 
understandings,  have  resolved  and  determined  as  follows,  in  re- 
gard to  their  difference,  to  wit 

"  As  one  of  the  two  said  parties  asks  a  little  too  much  for  his 
boarding  from  the  other,  and  that  this  other  will  not  agree  and  give 
a  fair  price,  and  in  view  of  the  many  verbal  complications  branching 
out  from  the  main  point,  which  would  require  further  enlighten- 
ment, and  having  found  both  parties  much  soured  against  each 


MOTARD  AND  LOISEL.  315 

other,  and  consequently  difficult  to  lead  to  an  agreement,  we  send  it 
back  to  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  so  that  it  may  please  him  to  make 
such  a  decision  as  he  may  find  suitable,  or  terminate  their  differ- 
ences by  such  a  decision  as  seems  to  him  best. 
"  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  November  17,  1802. 

"  Manuel  Gonzales  Moro.  Charles  Sangcinet." 

"  In  view  of  the  statement  of  Messrs  Charles  Sanguinet  and  Man- 
uel Moro,  arbitrators  appointed  by  Joseph  Motard  and  Regis 
Loisel,  in  regard  to  their  difficulty  about  the  payment  of  the  board- 
ing. As  it  is  a  difficulty  impossible  for  us  to  terminate,  as  there  is 
no  written  agreement,  nor  other  evidence  than  that  of  the  interested 
parties  themselves,  and  that  can  only  be  decided  by  a  fair  estimate 
made  by  impartial  parties,  we  will  appoint  Mr.  Hebert  Lecompte, 
who  with  Messrs.  Sanguinet  and  Moro,  may  be  able  to  end  the 
matter  according  to  their  souls  and  consciences. 

"  Chas.  Dehault  Delassus. 

"St.  Louis,  November 22,  1802." 

"We  the  undersigned,  with  one  accord,  on  our  souls  and  con- 
sciences, have  decided  and  decreed  that  Mr.  Motard  will  pay  Mr. 
Loisel  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  dollars  and  five 
bits  (134f^),  that  we  have  made  up  from  their  respective  state- 
ments, in  money  current  in  this  country.  In  testimony  of  which 
we  have  signed  this  present,  at  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  December  1, 
1802. 

"Charles  Sanguinet.  Man'l  Gonzales  Moro. 

"  Wm.  Hebert  Lecompte." 

"  The  parties  to  the  above  judgment  will  be  notified  to  conform 
to  the  same. 

"  Delassus. 
"St.  Louis,  December  1,  1802." 


1  Old  Motard  died  on  the  29th  December,  at  the  age  of  80  years,  just 
four  weeks  after  this  feeding  contest,  so  that  Loisel  just  '^  saved  his 
bacon." 


316  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


OFFICIAL   NOTES    TO   OOVR.  DELA8SU3,  PRECEDING    HIS    EXPEDITION   TO 

NEW    MADRID. 

"In  complianne  with  your  otficial  orders  of  yesterday,  Mr. 

James  Boyer  of  the  Saint  Genevieve  Company,  and  Mr. 

of    the   Platin   Company,  bearers   of  tlie   same,  have  orders   to 

report  themselves  to  you  prepared  to  inarch. 

"  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping, 

"  Fran' CO  VallA. 
"  St.  GenevIeve,  Nov.  10,  1802. 

"  No.  74.  I  received  by  your  messenger  your  official  note  No. 
71  of  the  19th  Inst.  I  immediately  dispatched  the  messengers, 
as  you  instructed  me,  to  apprise  the  Chiefs  of  the  Mascou  or 
Taliposa  Indians,  who  may  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  this  dis- 
trict, that  I  learnt  from  one  of  the  said  tribe  now  at  '.his  post, 
they  were  in  the  direction  of  the  Mararaeque ;  and  I  charged  the 
said  Messenger,  that  if  he  encountered  old  Canaloue,  the  Shawnee 
Mascou,  to  report  with  him  at  New  Madrid  the  15tb  Deer,  prox- 
imo—  to  be  present  at  the  council  there  to  be  held  in  compliance 
with  the  instructions  of  the  Governor  General  of  New  Orleans,  in 
regard  to  the  disposition  of  the  Mascou  prisoners  now  held  there. 

"  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping, 

"  St.  Genevieve,  Nov.  22,  1802. 

"  Fran' CO  Vall6. 

"  To  Gov'r  Charles  De  Lassus. 

"  In  reply  to  your  official  note  No  72,  I  send  you  herewith  a 
list  of  those  persons  at  this  post  able  to  bear  arms,  and  who  pos- 
sess arms  and  horses.     St.  Genevieve,  Nov.  24,  1802. 

"  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 

"  Fran'co  Vall6. 
"To  Gov'r  Charles  De  Lassus. 

"  No.  76.  In  conformity  to  orders  received  in  your  official  note 
No.  73,  I  have  this  day  organized  for  active  service  the  Detach- 
ment under  my  command,  and  they  are  ready  for  the  march.     I 


OFFICIAL  NOTES  TO  GOVR  DELASSUS.  317 

would  have  sent  you  the  muater-roll,  but  that  I  was  constantly 
expecting  your  t  rrival,  as  you  had  written  me. 

"  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 
"8t.  Gknkvikvk,  Dec'r  4,  1802. 

"  Fran' CO  Vall^. 
"Don  C.  Dehault  De  Lassus, 

"  Lieut.  OovW. 

"No.  77.  I  received  by  your  mounted  orderly  the  orders  of 
the  8th  and  9th  lasts. ,  sent  me  by  Don  Camille  De  Lassua,  Lieut, 
and  Aid-de-Carap,  and  at  once  made  them  known  to  the  com- 
manding officers  of  the  militia  of  Saint  Genevieve  and  Platin,  so 
that  they  may  carry  them  into  execution  without  delay. 
God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 

St.  Gbvevieve,  Dec'r  10,  1802. 
Don  Chas.  Dehault  Delassus,  Fhan'oo  Vall^. 

Commanding  Officer. 

78.  Hereto  appended  is  the  roll  of  the  New  Bourbon  Company, 
examined  by  myself.     In  execution  of  the  orders  of  last  evening, 
I  ordered  the  St.  Genevieve  and  Platin  companies  to  re-assemble 
at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  to  have  read  to  them  the  order  of  march. 
God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping, 

St.  Genevieve,  Dec'r  12,  1802. 
Don  Chas.  D.  DELAastna,  Fran'co  Vall^. 

Lieut.  Oover'r. 

"No.  1.  Conformably  to  your  official  notice  No.  23,  I  caused 
inquiry  to  be  made  in  all  the  adjacent  parts  of  this  district,  if 
there  were  any  Indians  of  the  Mascoux  or  Talipoux  tribe  therea- 
bouts.   I  am  assured  that  there  are  none  of  that  nation  hereabouts. 
God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping, 
New  Bourbon,  Nov.  23,  1802. 

Cahille  De  Lassus. 

"  No.  2.  Included  is  the  list  of  those  inhabitants  of  this  post 
and  district  who  possess  horses  and  arms,  and  whom  I  have 
directed  to  hold  themselves  ready  to  repair  to  New  Madrid,  early 
in  the  month  of  December  next,  or  when  it  may  be  requisite  in 
the  course  of  that  month.     Consequently  apprise  me  in  time  to 


318  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

give  them  due  notice,  some  of  tliem  living  at  a  long  distance  from 
this  Post.     Apprise  me  also  if  these  men  are  to  carry  with  them 
their  provisions  for  the  journey,  tlie  length  of  time  they  may 
remain  at  New  Madrid,  and  for  their  return  to  their  homes. 
"  This  is  in  reply  to  your  official  note,  No.  24. 

God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 

Nkw  Boukbon,  Nov.  23,  1802 

Camille  De  Lassus. 

"No.  49,  Don  Charles  Dehault  De  Lassus. 

"  In  conformity  to  your  official  note  No.  64,  which  I  received 
the  22nd  inst. ,  I  repaired  the  next  day  and  the  succeeding  one,  to 
the  village  of  the  Loups  and  Chaouanons  Indians  and  made  known 
to  them  your  orders. 

"As  they  are  nearly  all  absent  on  their  hunt,  I  think  there  will 
be  but  few  of  them  at  the  Council ;  however,  the  principal  chief 
of  the  Loups  will  be  present  with  some  others. 

God  have  you.  Sir,  in  his  holy  keeping. 

Cape  Girardeau,  Nov'r  29,  1802. 

L.  LORIMIER. 

"No.  50.  Don  Charles  Dehault  De  Lassus. 
"  Subjoined  is  the  list  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Post  able  to 
bear  arms,  as  you  required  of  me  by  your  No.  65. 

God  have  you.  Sir,  in  his  holy  keeping. 

Cape  Girardeau,  Nov'r  29,  1802. 

L.  LORIMIER. 


MILITARY  ORDERS   OF     GOVERNOR   DELA8SUS, 
in  his  expedition  to  New  Madrid,  Dec'r.  and  Jan'y.  1802-1803. 

ORDERS  OF  THE  8tH  TO  9tH  DECEMBER,  1802. 

The  assembled  inhabitants  will  recognize  Capt.  Don  Francois 
Valle,  as  Second  in  command  of  the  expedition. 

Lieut.  Don  Joseph  Pratte  as  commandant  of  the  St.  Genevieve 
Company. 


MILITARY  OKDERS  OP  GOVR  DELA88U8.  319 

Second  Lieut.  Don  F'rancois  Valid,  Jr.,  as  commandant  of  the 
Platin  company. 

Second  Lieut.  Don  Camille  Delassus  as  commandant  of  the  New- 
Bourbon  company,  and  aid-de-camp  and  Adjutant. 

Tliey  will  be  obeyed  in  all  their  orders,  verbal  or  written,  for 
the  King'a  Service. 

Tliis  order  will  be  read  to-morrow  on  assembling  the  companies. 
After  which  the  commandants  will  appoint  the  Sergeants  and  cor- 
porals of  their  respective  companies. 

Delassus. 

ORDER  OF  THE   9tH   DECR. 

"  Commencing  this  day,  each  company  will  appoint  a  mounted 
and  armed  Orderly,  wiio  will  remain  near  the  Lieut.  Governor, 
and  will  be  successively  relieved  every  twenty-four  hours ;  the 
Sergeants  of  each  company  will  report  every  day  at  Sunset  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Eauge  to  receive  the  orders  of  the  Adjutant  Don 
Camille  De  Lassus  to  the  commandants  of  companies,  for  the 
observance  of  their  respective  commands.  Should  the  Sergeants 
be  engaged  in  other  duties,  which  would  prevent  their  being  there 
at  the  time  designated,  he  will  be  replaced  by  the  first  corporal, 
and  so  on  successively. 

Delassus. 

ORDER  OF  THE  llvH  DECR. 

"  Messrs.  the  commandants  of  companies  will  hold  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  form  on  to-morrow  at  the  hour  which  will  be 
given  them  by  the  2nd  in  command,  Don  Franc's  Valle,  to  hear 
read  the  order  of  March. 

Chas.  Dehault  Delassus. 


ORDERS  FOR  THE  MARCH  OF  THE  EXPEDITION. 

"  Ist.  Seven  men  will  be  taken  from  each  company  to  form  the 
advance  guard,  which  will  be  commanded  by  each  Sergeant  alter- 
nately. 

"2nd.  This  guard  will  have  twelve  axes,  and  will  start  every 
morning,  two  hours  before  the  main  body  of  the  mihtia  —  when 


320  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

towards  noon  they  will  have  reached  a  suitable  place  for  the 
noon-day  lialt,  tiiey  will  stop  there  and  kindle  two  fires,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  an  arpcnt  apart. 

"  3d.  On  the  arrival  of  the  main  body  at  the  lialting  place,  the 
van  guard  will  remount  and  proceed  on  to  select  the  company 
ground  for  the  night,  where  they  will  kindle  Ave  fires,  at  a  dis- 
tance of  half  an  arpent  apart,  taking  care  to  select  the  said  camp- 
ing ground,  early  enougii  to  enable  the  main  i)ody  to  reach  it  a 
half  hour  before  sun  set. 

"  4th.  The  Van-guard  will  be  relieved  every  morning,  and  will 
then  form  the  rear  guard  for  the  day. 

"  5th.  The  Sergeant  commanding  the  Van-guard  will  proceed  on 
a  slow  trot  in  good  roads,  and  at  n  walk  in  bad  places. 

"  6th.  Should  there  be  met  in  the  route  which  will  be  indicated 
to  him,  any  serious  impediments,  such  u  srivers,  creeks,  bad  cross- 
ings, &c.,  he  will  await  the  arrival  of  the  main  body  of  tlie  militia. 
"  7th.  Should  he  meet  with  any  gathering  of  Indians,  or  other 
armed  men  he  will  at  once  communicate  the  same  to  the  chief 
commandant,  by  a  mounted  messenger. 

"  8th.  In  such  bad  places  as  may  not  require  his  waiting  for  the 
main  body,  as  per  Article  6tb,  be  will  expedite  the  passage  of  the 
said  body  as  much  as  possible,  by  cutting  the  ice  if  not  strong 
enough  to  bear  the  horses,  or  bridging  it  with  branches  of  trees,  or 
saplings,  to  make  the  crossing  practicable. 

' '  9th.  The  main  body  of  the  detachment  will  start  two  hours  after 
the  van-guard,  going  on  a  trot  in  good  places,  and  at  a  walk  in 
bad,  and  will  maintain  as  far  as  possible  the  order  of  march  which 
will  be  given  them  at  starting. 

"  10th.  In  all  cases  where  Messrs.  the  Officers  may  command 
silence,  or  other  orders,  we  doubt  not  that  all  who  compose  our 
Detachment  will  be  eager  to  obey. 

"  11th.  Immediately  on  arriving  at  a  camping  ground,  a  guard 
will  be  formed  of  seven  men  from  each  company,  commanded  by 
an  officer,  a  Sergeant  and  a  corpord,  who  will  place  the  sentinels 
that  the  location  may  require  to  guard  against  surprises,  and  pre- 
vent the  escape  of  any  of  the  horses.  The  officer  commanding 
the  guard  will  report  every  morning,  and  his  Sergeant  will  imme- 
diately take  the  command  of  the  advance  guard. 


EXPEDITION  TO  NEW  MADI.ID.  321 

"  12th.  The  officers  will  carefully  watch  over  tholr  .  ^  ectlve 
companies,  and  have  the  roll  called  every  morning,  they  will  sec 
that  no  arms  arc  loaded  without  orders,  and  make  their  report  on 
each  day  before  resuming  the  march. 

"  13th.  If  while  marching,  the  officer  or  Sergeant  at  the  rear  per- 
ceives that  they  go  too  fast,  he  will  immediately  notify  the  com- 
mandant at  the  front  by  passing  the  word  to  halt. 

"  14th.  All  the  horses,  packed  or  loose,  with  their  drivers,  will  he 
plpoed  between  the  Detachment  and  the  rear-guard,  allowing  none 
to  pass  to  the  front  by  the  Hanks,  nor  remain  in  rear  of  the  said 
guard. 

"  15th.  The  rear-guard  will  keep  at  about  two  arpents  in  rear 
of  the  Detachment,  and  will  take  care  to  pick  up  anything  that 
may  have  been  dropped.  Should  any  one  from  sickness,  or  fault 
of  his  horse  be  corapelle<l  to  drop  behind,  the  guard  will  at  once 
notify  the  commander  by  a  messenger. 

"  16th.  They  will  see  that  no  horse  driver  remain  behind,  their 
place  on  the  march  being  between  the  Detachment  and  thegurrd  ; 
should  anything  fall  or  become  disarranged,  they  will  call  a  halt 
and  lend  assistance  to  remedy  it,  and  then  resume  their  march  at 
the   proper   distance  from  the  Detachment. 

This  order  will  be  read  to  each  company  under  arms,  by  its 
respective  commanding  officer  at  the  hour  to  be  named  by  the 
Second  in  command,   Don  Francis  Vall^. 

"  New  Bouubon,  Dec.  11,  1802.  Charles  Dehault  Delassos, 

"  Camille  Delassus." 


ORDER    OF    THE     12tH    TO    IStH    DECEMBER. 

"To-morrow,  Dec.  13th  at  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  weather  per- 
mitting, the  advance  guard,  under  the  command  of  the  Senior 
Sergeant  Mr.  Levrard,  will  set  out,  pursuant  to  the  order  of  the 
nth,  to  open  the  March  ;  for  this  purpose  the  officers  will  appoint 
from  their  respective  companies  the  number  of  men  specified, 
taking  their  respective  numbers  in  rotation  so  that  the  duty  may 
be  equally  performed. 

"  The  militia  men  of  the  advance  guard  of  the  two  companies 

21 


322  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

now  at  Stc.  Genevieve,  will  be  joined  in  passing  through  New  Bour- 
bon, by  the  guard  of  that  company,  which  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  same  will  take  care  to  have  in  readiness  to  join  the  first  to 
complete  the  said  Van-guard.  They  will  take  the  most  conven- 
ient road,  passing  by  the  rapids  of  Salt  river,  and  will  then  pur- 
sue the  route,  conforming  to  the  order  of  March. 

"The  main  body  of  the  militia  will  form  to  set  out  three  hours 
after  the  advance  guard,  the  two  companies  will  start  from  Ste. 
Genevieve,  and  the  New  Bourbon  company  will  take  its  position 
in  the  line  in  passing  through  that  Post.  The  Van  guard  having 
twelve  axe  men,  five  of  the  remaining  six  will  march  in  front  of 
the  main  body,  at  an  arpen  distance,  formed  by  two's  and  one  in 
front,  and  the  sixth  will  keep  between  the  detachment  and  the  rear 
guard,  with  the  pack  trains. 

"  There  being  no  van-guard  for  the  first  day's  march,  there  will 
be  detailed  a  corporal  and  three  men  from  each  company,  who 
will  march  in  rear  of  the  Detachment  after  the  baggage,  and  who 
will  conform  to  what  is  prescribed  for  the  rear-guard  in  the  order 
of  March. 

"  Caijille  Dklassus.  Chas.  Dehault  Delassus." 

ORDEH    OF    THE    17tH    DECEMBER    AT    CAPE    GIRARDEAU. 

"  Don  Louis  Lorimier,  commandant  of  Cape  Girardeau,  will  be 
recognized  as  Captain  of  the  militia  of  said  Post,  and  Don  Will- 
iam Lorimier  as  Lieut,  of  said  militia,  and  they  will  be  obeyed  in 
all  their  orders,  either  verbal  or  written,  in  this  expedition  for  the 
service  of  his  Catliolic  Majesty. 

"Afterwards  Don  Louis  Lorimier,  at  the  head  of  his  militia  will 
designate  the  sergeants  and  corporals  of  his  company. 

"  From  to-day  an  officer,  a  sergeant,  and  a  corporal  of  the  com- 
pany of  the  Cape  with  twenty  of  her  men  will  set  out  as  an  ad- 
vance guard  one  hour  before  the  Detachment ;  on  arriving  at  the 
camping  place  they  will  kindle  ten  fires,  at  the  distance  of  half  an 
arpent  from  each  other,  they  will  clear  tlie  snow  from  around  the 
fires  so  that  the  militia  men  may  encamp  there  comfortably.  The 
colours  of  the  Cape  Girardeau  company  will  remain  attached  to 
its  company,  but  it  will  be  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  Detach- 


EXPEDITION  TO  NEW  MADRID.  323 

ment,  with  a  guard  of  two  men  from  each  company  who  will  sur- 
round it  in  the  order  in  which  we  post  them. 

"  On  arriving  at  each  camping  place  or  settlement,  the  officer, 
Don  Camille  Delassus,  will  repair  to  the  fire  of  the  vanguard  of 
the  Detachment,  and  if  in  a  settlement  to  the  quarters  of  the 
commander  in  chief  where  the  guard  will  repair. 

"The  eight  axe  men  of  the  company  of  the  Cape,  will  always 
march  at  the  head  of  the  main  body  of  the  Detachment,  a  half 
arpent  in  advance,  and  when  in  line,  they  will  repair  to  the  cen- 
tre of  the  Detachment,  where  they  will  form  themselves  in  the 
manner  there  indicated. 

"'^he  companies  will  be  formed  as  follows :  the  St.  Genevieve 
Company  on  the  right,  next  in  line  that  of  New  Bourbon,  then 
that  of  Cape  Girardeau,  and  then  the  Platin  Company,  all  accord- 
ing to  the  seniority  of  the  settlements. 

GENKRAL    ORDERS,  NEW    MADRID,  DEC'R    20,    1802. 

'^^  1st.  The  officers  of  the  Detachment  of  the  Posts  of  St.  Gene- 
vieve, New  Bourbon,  Cape  Girardeau,  and  Platin,  in  addition  to 
the  zeal  and  readiness  they  have  displayed  from  the  moment  of 
our  departure,  will  watch  over  with  diligent  care  to  see  that  all 
the  respectable  and  worthy  inhabitants  of  our  Detachment  be 
made  as  comfortable  as  possible  in  their  quarters,  and  that  the 
provisions  for  themselves,  and  forage  for  the  horses  be  fairly  dis- 
tributed, requiring  also  that  the  sergeants  and  corporals  have  an 
eye  to  the  same ;  they  will  inform  me  of  the  least  innovation,  so 
that  if  contrary  to  the  orders  I  have  given,  that  nothing  be 
omitted  necessary  to  their  comfort  during  tiieir  sojourn  in  this 
place,  I  may  remedy  the  matter  by  additional  orders. 

"  2nd.  Every  day  the  guard  of  the  Machekouy  Indian  prisoners, 
will  be  formed  by  the  militia  of  New  Madrid,  that  is  to  say,  by 
the  company  on  foot. 

'■'■3rd.  Tlie  cavalry  company  of  this  Post  will  hold  themselves 
ready  at  all  times  to  mount  their  horses  with  those  of  the  De- 
tachment of  the  upper  Posts,  as  before  mentioned,  and  will 
perform  the  duty  with  them  alternately. 

"  4th.  Every  day  at  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.  Mr.  Henry  Peyroux, 


324  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

commandant  of  this  Post  of  New  Madrid,  Mr.  Francis  Valid  the 
second  in  command  of  the  Detachment,  Mr.  Camille  Delassus, 
my  aid  de  Camp,  and  Mr.  Pierre  Antoine  Laforge,  adjutant  of  the 
militia  of  New  Madrid,  will  come  to  receive  the  order  that  I  will 
give  them,  to  communicate  the  same  to  a  sergeant  of  each  com- 
pany of  all  the  militia  in  general ;  said  sergeants  will  report  them- 
selves at  noon  at  the  garrison  at  the  fort,  where  the  senior  officers 
and  adjutant  above  will  dictate  it  and  the  sergeants  take  it  down 
in  writing.  To  this  end  each  sergeant  will  have  an  order  book, 
commencing  from  to-morrow  the  21st  Inst. 

"5<A.  The  said  commandant  Peyroux,  commandant  of  the  de- 
tachment from  above,  Aid  de  Camp  and  Adjutant  will  receive  the 
watch-word  each  day,  which  they  will  give  in  writing  to  each  com- 
mandant of  the  guard  of  their  companies,  for  which  purpose  the 
said  officers  will  send  an  armed  corporal  at  five  o'clock  P.  M.  to 
the  said  principal  who  will  carry  it  sealed  to  his  officer. 

"  6th.  The  watch-word  is  to  receive  the  rounds,  which  will  be 
made  after  this,  according  to  seniority  of  the  officers  —  these  will 
give  on  arriving  at  a  post  the  countersign,  and  being  recognized, 
the  sergeant  will  receive  the  sign  and  countersign.  If  it  is  senior 
rounds,  that  is  made  by  myself  M.  Peyroux,  M.  the  2nd  in  com- 
mand, or  the  aid  de  camp  or  adjutant,  the  corporal  or  sergeant  of 
the  guard  will  approach  and  receive  from  him  tlie  countersign, 
and  being  recognized,  the  commandant  of  the  guard  will  give  the 
watchword,  that  is  sign  and  countersign,  it  being  understood  that 
all  persons  who  wish  to  pass  after  retreat  (tattoo)  will  be  re- 
quired to  give  the  countersign,  without  which  they  will  be 
arrested.  The  orders  for  the  guard  of  the  Indian  prisoners  will, 
until  new  orders  are  issued,  remain  in  force  as  tliey  are  at  this 
day. 

"  Every  day  at  sunset  the  officers  will  be  with  their  respective 
companies  to  have  the  roll  called,  they  will  make  their  report  by 
a  sergeant  or  corporal  to  Major  Camille  Delassus,  who  will  apprise 
me  of  the  least  change ;  for  this  purpose  eacii  one  will  select  a 
suitable  place  for  assembling  his  company  near  the  center  of  their 
quarters,  and  they  will  give  notice  to  the  men  of  their  respective 
commands  to  arm  and  repair  to  the  place  where  the  Detachment 
brought  by  me  to  this  Post  is  to  form  at  a  signal  of  alarm,  by 


EXPEDITION  TO  NEW  MADRID.  325 

the  drum,  a  red  flag  and  a  blue  light  at  the  fort,  assured  by  three 
cannon  shots  in  the  day  time,  and  by  five  cannon  shots  in  the 
night  and  the  drum  beating. 

"  In  a  case  as  above  each  commandant  of  a  company  will  con- 
duct liis  own,  full,  to  the  said  place,  as  also  the  Cavalry  Company 
of  this  Post,  and  the  foot  companies  will  await  my  orders  to 
assemble  as  I  deem  it  necessary. 

"  The  guards  and  mounted  orderlies  will  be  relieved  each  day  at 
5  o'clock,  for  this  purpose  they  will  assemble  at  the  Fort,  from 
which  the  adjutant  Don  Camille  de  Lassus  will  desi)atch  them 
to  their  respective  posts,  and  the  duties,  until  new  orders,  will  be 
as  follows :  The  guard  by  the  foot  militia  of  New  Madrid  for  the 
prisoners  of  the  Machecous  Nation,  will  remain  as  at  present. 
The  color  guard  will  consist  of  an  officer,  a  sergeant,  a  corporal 
and  four  men  of  the  niiliiia  who  came  here.  Each  of  the  com- 
panies here  united  will  sond  each  day  a  mounted  orderly  to  the 
quarters  of  said  Major  Don  Camille  De  Lassus  —  the  sergeants 
and  corporals  of  the  companies  who  came  here,  will  alter- 
nately every  two  days  tak o  their  men  to  the  fort,  to  be  present  at 
distribution  of  the  rations  which  will  be  made  them,  for  them- 
selves and  their  horses.  The  commandants  of  companies  will  take 
care  to  read  every  day  at  the  roll-call,  the  present  order,  and  all 
those  that  I  may  give  in  future, 

"  It  will  be  made  known  to  the  militia  of  this  post  of 
New  Madrid,  the  officers  of  the  arriving  detachment,  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

Don    Francis  Valle,  Capt.  Com'g,  St,  Genevieve  Company, 

2nd  in  Command. 

"  Don  Louis  Lorimier.  "  Cape  Girardeau       " 

"  Don  Joseph  Pratte,  Lieut.    "  St.  Genevieve  " 

"  Don  Francis  Valle,  Sub.  Lieut.  Platin  " 

"  Don  Camille  De  Lassus,      "  New    Bourbon,  Aid.      de 

Camp. 
"  Don  William  Lorimier,       "  Cape  Girardeau 

"  Don  William  Strader,  Standard  Bearer. 

"  Charles  Dehault  De  Lassus." 


326  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

ORDER  OF  THE  22nD,  DECE!tIBER,  1802. 

"  It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  observe  the  greatest  order  for  the 
public  tranquillity,  the  officers  will  see  to  it  this  evening  at  the 
roll-call  of  their  respective  companies,  that  all  the  fire-arms  are 
discharged,  and  that  firing  in  the  village  is  prohibited  without 
orders,  under  any  pretext  whatever. 

ORDER  OF  THE  23rd  DECEMBER,  1802. 

"The  militia  of  this  post  having  guarded  theMachecous  prison- 
ers since  the  thirtieth  of  July  last  to  this  day,  to  enable  them  to 
take  some  rest,  and  organize  themselves  more  easily,  to  be  ready 
at  the  first  order  to  commence  from  this  day,  the  companies  that 
came  here  and  the  cavalry  company  of  this  place,  will  furnish  the 
prisoners'  guard,  that  will  be  composed  of  an  officer,  a  sergeant, 
two  corporals  and  thirty  men,  who  will  mount  guard  on  foot ; 
the  guard  of  St.  Genevieve  will  furnish  daily  six  militia  men ;  that 
of  Cape  Girardeau  will  furnish  ten,  that  of  Platin,  three,  and  that 
of  New  Bourbon  will  furnish  seven. 

"  The  color  guard  will  consist  but  of  one  corporal  and  one  mili- 
tia man  from  each  company  and  the  orderlies  of  the  Senior  offi- 
cer will  be  furnished  as  heretofore. 

"Those  persons  at  whose  houses  the  recently  arrived  militia  are 
quartered,  will  take  good  care  of  the  horses  of  those  on  duty,  with 
the  forage  which  will  be  distributed  to  them  for  the  purpose,  whilst 
these  last  are  on  guard. 

"The  officers  of  the  companies  on  foot  of  this  Post,  will  give  all 
their  care,  with  the  greatest  possible  expedition,  to  organize  their 
respective  companies,  so  that  they  may  be  ready  and  in  a  condi- 
tion to  join  the  others,  at  the  signal  to  be  given  in  case  of  neces- 
sity. Charles  Dehault  De  Lassus. 

DECEMBER  25,  1802. 

"  Commencing  to-morrow  26th,  the  roll-call  and  parade  will  be 
at  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  to  faciUtate  the  distribution  of  the  provis- 
ions and  rations,  as  soon  as  the  guard  is  relieved. 


EXPEDITION  TO  NEW  MADRID.  327 


ORDER  OE  THE  27tH  DECEMBER,  1802. 

"  For  the  signs  of  alarm,  instead  of  the  red  flag  and  blue  light, 
proclaimed  by  the  order  of  the  20th  inst. ,  it  will  be  a  red  light 
and  the  royal  flag. 

Charles  Dehault  Delassus. 


ORDER  OF  THE  SlST  DECEMBER,  1802. 

"  All  the  officers  assembled  at  this  Post,  who  will  not  be  on 
duty,  will  meet  on  to-morrow  Jan.  1,  1803,  after  the  parade,  at 
the  house  I  occupy,  and  to  be  present  at  the  council  to  be  held 
there  with  the  Machecou  and  other  Indians. 

Charles  Dehault  Delassus. 


ORDER  FROM  2nD  TO  3rD  JANUARY,  1803. 

"  The  officers  of  the  companies  of  Cavalry,  will  assemble  their 
respective  companies  to-morrow  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M.  near  their 
quarters ;  they  will  order  arms  to  be  loaded,  and  to  take  the 
the  necessary  precaution  to  strictly  charge  every  man  to  exer- 
cise the  greatest  possible  care  that  his  piece  is  not  discharged 
involuntarily  without  orders,  and  as  soon  as  the  companies  are 
formed,  each  will  advise  me  of  it  by  an  orderly  he  will  despatch 
to  me. 

' '  Each  commandant  of  said  companies  will  await  the  cannon 
shot  which  will  be  fired  from  the  Fort  as  the  aignal  of  assembling, 
and  will  march  his  company,  according  to  orders  previously  given 
him  to  form  the  line,  and  the  officers,  sergeants  and  corporals 
will  take  their  positions  as  previously  ordered. 

"  The  Adjutant  Don  Camille  Delassus  will  detail  a  guard  of  a 
sergeant,  a  corporal,  and  one  man  from  each  company,  to  go  for 
the  standard,  with  drums  beating,  which  having  brought  they 
will  place  it  opposite  the  cavalry  in  the  centre. 

"  When  he  will  be  commanded  to  carry  the  order  to  the  officer 
of  the  prisoners'  guard,  to  deliver  up  the  criminal  Tewanaye  to  the 
commandant  of  the  Detachment  of  the  Louisiana  Regiment,  he 
will  repair  there  and  cause  his  shackles  to  be  taken  off  by  the 


328  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

blacksmith  he  will  find  there  for  the  purpose ;  and  will  give 
the  order  to  tlie  officer  of  the  guard,  to  immediately  place  the  four 
other  prisoners  on  the  gallery  to  enable  them  to  witness  the  exe- 
cution of  Tewanaj'e. 

"  He  will  place  himself  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  of  Louisiana, 
which  he  will  march  opposite  the  Standard  where  the  sentence  of 
Tewanaye  will  be  read  by  Don  Pierre  Antoine  Laforge,  adjutant 
of  the  militia  of  this  post,  public  writer,  and  appointed  in  that 
capacity  for  the  instruction  of  the  said  prisoners,  which  sentence 
will  be  interpreted  to  them  by  the  interpreter. 

"  Immediately  following,  the  criminal  will  be  conducted  in  the 
same  manner  to  the  place  appointed,  and  there  shot  to  death  by 
the  detail  from  the  garrison  for  tiie  purpose.  The  corpse  will  be 
placed  in  the  coffin,  and  carried  by  the  soldiers  in  the  garrison 
to  the  place  of  interment,  the  detaciiment  of  cavalry  will  then 
form  by  fours  on  the  riglit,  at  the  command  of  the  Adjutant,  and 
will  then  pass  opposite  the  grave,  drums  beating,  and  form  as 
in  the  first  position.  Tlie  Standard  will  then  be  returned  in  the 
manner  it  was  brought,  to  its  place  of  keeping.  The  senior  offi- 
cer having  brought  back  the  detachment,  will  give  an  order  for 
each  company  to  return  to  its  place  of  meeting  near  its  quarters, 
where  they  may  dismount  for  a  brief  period,  leaving  their  horses 
saddled  ready  to  remount  at  the  first  order,  under  the  command  of 
the  sergeants  and  corporals  of  the  respective  companies,  the 
officers  having  to  assemble  at  my  quarters  to  be  present  and 
witness  the  release  of  the  other  four  prisoners,  to  which  end  the 
senior  officer  will  carry  the  order  to  the  officer  of  the  guard  to 
take  off  their  shackles  and  send  them  with  one-half  of  his  guard 
to  my  quarters,  to  be  restored  to  the  Chief  Agypousetchy  of  the 
Mashkou  Nation. 

"  The  guard  and  the  orderlies  will  be  relieved  after  the  close 
of  the  council,  according  to  orders  which  circumstances  may  sug- 
gest. "  Charles  Dehault  Delassus." 

ORDER  JANUARY  3rD  1803. 

"  The  guard,  heretofore  the  prisoners,  will  remain  until  further 
orders,  composed  of  an   officer,  a  sergeant,  two  corporals,  and 


EXPEDITION  TO  NEW  MADRID.  329 

the  same  number  of  militia  men  as  formerly,  as  principal  guard, 
and  from  this  date  will  report  themselves  with  arms  anil  horses ; 
the  said  guard  will  furnish  two  sentinels  in  the  day  time,  one  on 
foot,  placed  opposite  the  guard  house,  the  other  mounted, 
around  about  the  powder  magazine ;  in  the  night  time  she  will 
furnish  three,  mounted,  one  in  front  of  the  guard  house,  and  one 
in  the  rear,  the  third  about  the  powder  magazine.  Commencing 
after  night-fall,  the  officer  of  the  guard  will  cause  hourly  patrol- 
ling to  be  made  in  all  the  streets  of  the  village,  and  the  patrol  will 
consist  of  a  sergeant  wlio  will  alternate  with  the  corporal  and  four 
men,  all  mounted.  The  patrol  will  arrest  all  suspected  persons, 
and  those  who  make  noises  in  the  streets,  the  rounds  will  be  re- 
cieved  as  before,  and  this  order  will  be  passed  from  the  officer  of 
the  guard  being  relieved  to  the  one  coming  in. 

"Charles  Dehault  Delassus." 


ORDER  JANUARY  4,    1803. 

"  The  main  guard  armed,  counting  from  to-day,  will  consist  of 
an  officer,  a  sergeant,  two  cori>orals,  and  fifteen  militia  men  on 
horses,  they  will  post  a  sentinel  before  the  guard  house,  and 
another  on  the  square  of  the  powder  magazine,  they  will  be  on 
foot  during  the  day,  and  on  horse  at  night  for  the  rest  observe 
my  previous  orders. 

"  C.  DeLassus." 

ORDER    JANUARY    6,  1803. 

The  militia  of  the  upper  Posts  here  assembled,  will  present 
themselves  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.  to  receive  their  rations  to  Cape 
Girardeau.  To-morrow  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.  they  will  assemble  in 
the  street  opposite  the  Colours,  and  as  soon  as  formed  we  will 
start  for  our  first  Camp  at  the  hole  —  an  officer,  a  sergeant,  a  cor- 
poral and  seven  men  a  company,  will  start  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M, 
to  prepare  the  encampment  in  the  same  manner  as  in  coming. 

The  officers  will  be  careful  to  have  gathered  up  the  axes 
brought  with  us,  and  to  have  them  delivered  to  tiie  van  guard. 

The  main  guard  for  this  daj-  will  be  detailed  from  the  company 


830  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

of  mounted  men  of  tliis  post,  and  will  comprise  a  corporal  and 
four  men,  who  need  not  patrol  the  village,  but  only  an  armed  sen- 
tinel on  duty  day  and  night. 

Charles  Dehault  Delassus. 


"OKDEUS    FOR   THE    MIUTIA  OF   THE    POST  OF    NEW  MADRID. 

"  which  the  commandant  of  the  said  post  will  cause  to  be  observed; 
and  of  which  each  Captain  will  have  a  copy  for  his  own  observ- 
ance, and  that  of  the  officers  and  men  composing  his  company. 

"  Notwithstanding  that  tlie  Mashkou  Tewanaye  has  been  exe- 
cuted in  presence  of  one  of  his  chiefs,  and  one  of  consideration 
of  their  nation,  who  have  approved  of  his  sentence,  and  who  have 
promised  us  to  live  in  the  most  perfect  friendship  with  us,  it  may 
occur  that  some  scoundrel  of  that  nation  or  another  may  seek  to 
revenge  the  death  of  their  comrade  —  and  to  frustrate  the  accom- 
plishment of  such  evil  intention,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that 
the  militia  of  this  post,  which  to  ray  great  surprise,  I  found  with- 
out the  slightest  order  or  organization  whatever,  for  lack  of  dis- 
position, although  the  same  zeal  that  I  found  in  the  subaltern 
officers  on  my  arrival  here,  should  be  put  in  better  shape. 

Commencing  on  the  next  Sunday,  Mr.  Henry  Peyroux,  com- 
mandant of  this  Post,  will  assemble  all  the  miUtia  men,  including 
therein  all  persons  able  to  bear  arms,  from  the  age  of  14  years  up 
to  50  and  not  above,  as  I  perceived  on  my  arrival  here  children 
of  not  more  than  8  or  9  years,  who  were  on  guard  of  the  Mash- 
kous  prisoners ;  and  each  Captain,  or  commandant  of  each  com- 
pany, will  organize  his  own  in  the  best  manner  possible,  and  he 
will  make  them  understand  that  no  matter  at  what  hour  it  may  be, 
at  the  signal  of  assembling,  which  will  be  the  same  promulgated 
in  our  order  of  the they  will  immediately  report  them- 
selves at  the  place  indicated  for  that  purpose. 

"  Mr.  H.  PejToux  will  immediately  issue  his  orders  to  the  mili- 
tary storekeeper,  that  he  will  always  keep  all  the  arms  in  the 
King's  Storehouse  in  good  order  ready  for  service,  and  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  cartridges  ready  for  distribution  in  an  urgent  case 
to  those  persons  who  may  not  possess  arms  nor  powder,  and  of 
lead  for  those  who  have  arms. 


ORDERS  FOR  NEW  MADRID.  331 

♦'  Should  there  be  fouiul  some  militia  men  living  at  distant  habita- 
tions, and  who  are  without  arms,  Mr.  I'eyroux  will  distribute  to 
them  a  number  of  the  guns  from  the  King's  Store,  and  some  am- 
munition, to  enable  them  to  defend  themselves,  while  awaiting 
such  measures  as  the  commandant  may  take  to  hasten  to  their 
assistance  with  the  first  who  may  repair  to  the  place  of  meeting 
indicated  ;  the  said  militia  men  will  give  a  receipt  for  the  arms  and 
ammunition  that  may  be  entrusted  to  them,  and  for  which  they  will 
be  responsible. 

'*  Innovation  or  not  the  militia  will  assemble  every  fifteen  days  on 
Sundays,  commencing  on  the  Sunday  next,  and  each  commandant 
will  exercise  his  in  marching  by  file,  or  in  sections  of  four  and 
eight,  according  to  the  number  of  tlieir  men,  to  teach  them  the 
manual  of  loading  and  firing,  to  enable  them  to  execute  it  i)romplly 
and  with  regularity. 

"All  enrolled  militia  men  who  exhibit  an  indisposition  to  com- 
ply with  the  order,  by  not  appearing  at  the  place  of  assembling 
when  required,  thus  giving  an  unequivocal  proof  of  his  little  love 
of  country,  will  for  the  first  offense  be  reprimanded  by  eight  days 
imprisonment,  and  eight  dollars  fine  —  the  second  time  double  the 
length  of  imprisonment  and  fine,  and  for  tiie  third  time,  it  will  be 
signified  to  him  to  settle  up  his  affairs  within  a  reasonable  period 
and  leave  the  country.  Understood  that  in  the  oath  of  allegiance 
administered  to  all  new  comers  to  the  country,  before  a  conces- 
sion of  land  is  granted  him  ;  he  must  obligate  himself  to  take  arras 
against  the  enemies  of  the  State,  and  all  malefactors  whenever  it 
will  be  required  of  him.  As  there  may  be  found  some  of  the  in- 
habitants who  have  not  yet  had  the  oath,  the  commandant  will 
administer  the  same  to  all  those  he  may  find  on  each  Sunday  of 
assembling. 

"  In  the  event  of  an  alarm,  ascertained  to  be  from  Indians,  or 
other  malefactors  who  have  committed  any  excesses,  or  who  may 
be  preparing  to  commit  tlu-m,  the  Cavalry  company  will  at  once 
begin  and  contiue  patrolling,  for  which  purpose  having  purposely 
chosen  persons  of  position  and  mounted,  they  should  always  be 
ready  the  first,  and  if  the  danger  appears  to  be  of  some  duration, 
the  commandant  will  order  a  daily  guard  and  patrol  by  all  the 
militia  according  to  the  exigency  of  the   case.     It  being  ascer- 


332  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

taincd  that  it  is  a  premeditated  attack,  and  that  tlie  enemy  are  in 
great  numbers,  the  commandant  of  tiiis  Post  will  dispatoli  an  ox- 
press  to  the  commandant  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Don  Louis  Lori- 
mier,  eitiier  to  come  and  reinforce  the  militia  of  this  place,  or 
to  keei)  himself  on  the  lookout  to  which  puriuwe  we  will  give  him 
the  necessary  instructions.  This  course  should  only  he  taken  in 
a  case  well  ascertained  to  be  as  explained  above,  and  not  from 
vague  rumors  emanating  from  cowardly  persons,  so  that  no  use- 
less ahirm  may  be  spread  tlirough  the  country,  nor  the  inhabi- 
tants intenu|)ted  in  their  daily  labors  without  an  urgent  neces- 
sity. 

"  As  the  position  of  the  cannons,  and  the  manner  in  which  they 
are  pointed  in  the  square  which  encloses  the  flag,  and  the  powder 
magazine,  is  cimtrary  to  all  the  general  rules  of  tactics,  consider- 
ing also  that  there  are  no  regular  troops  at  this  post,  the  com- 
manding ofHcer  will  avail  himself  of  the  militia  men  on  the  next 
Sunday,  to  place  them  in  battery  on  the  river,  leaving  the  first 
that  are  mounted  on  pivots,  to  be  enabled  to  lire  in  case  of  neces- 
sity on  the  four  fronts. 

"  This  order  will  be  read  to  the  assembled  militia  on  every  >Sun- 
day  of  meeting,  as  also  those  the  commandant  may  deem  neces- 
sary to  issue. 

"Orders  will  be  issued  to  Mr.  Francis  Lesieur,  Lieut,  of  the 
militia  living  at  the  little  Prairie  at  the  distance  of  ten  leagues 
from  this  vdlage,  to  strictly  observe  and  report  all  he  maj'  learn 
of  news  and  rumors  of  the  Indians,  and  that  he  keep  himself  on 
the  alert  and  send  notice  to  this  post  of  all  he  may  learn  of  con- 
sequence, making  him  resiionsible  for  all  inconsiderate  and  im- 
probable reports  that  might  cause  alarm. ' ' 

Governor  Delassus  appointed  the  following  officers,  viz. :  — 
Rich'd  F.  Waters  Capt.,  Geo.    K.    Reagan   Lieut.,   Jno.    B. 

Barsalou  Ensign,  of  the  company  of  Cavalry. 
John  Lavallee  Capt.,  Pierre  A.  Laforge  Lieut.,  John  Charpen- 

tier  ICnsign,  of  the  first  company  of  Infantry. 
Robert  McCoy  Capt.,  Joseph  Hunot  Lieut.,  Jno.    Hart  Ensign 

of  the  second  company  of  Infantry. 
The  Captains  of  companies  to  appoint  Sergeants  and  corporals. 


ORDEKS  CONCERNINO  TAVERNS  AND  DRAM-SUOPS.     33^3 


GENERAL   OKDKK  TO  ALL  TAVERN  KEEPERS,  TRADERS    AND    DRAMSHOP 
KEEPERS  AT  ALL  THE  POSTS  OF  TH.K  UPPER  LOUISIANA. 

Mr.  Charles   Dehault  DelasHus,  Lieut.    Col.  of  the   Retjiment  of 

Louisiana  and  Lieutenant  Oovrnor  of  Upper  Louisiana  and 

dep^ndencieii : 

"  In  virtue  of  strict  orders  conveyed  to  us  from  liis  lordship,  the 
Governor-General  of  this  Province,  to  entirely  eradicate  the  prime 
cause  of  all  the  disorders  occasioned  by  licjuors  sold  by  tavern 
iceeps,  dramshop  keepers,  traders  and  other  inhabitants  to  the 
Inilians,  in  spite  of  tlie  reiterated  proliibitionsof  our  predecessors 
and  ourselves,  and  without  the  fines  whicli  have  been  paid  by  the 
delinquents  sei-ving  as  an  ex  -mple  to  prevent  it,  being  generally 
proven  that  the  said  Indians  commit  no  excesses  but  when  drunk  ; 
this  is  proven  by  tlie  assassination  of  Mr.  Trotier  by  the  Indians 
to  whom  he  had  traded  liquor ;  all  this  compels  us  to  use  the  most 
rigorous  measures  for  the  public  tranquility. 

"  1st.  At  each  post  there  shall  be  but  a  certain  number  of 
tavern  and  dramshop  keepers  that  we  will  appoint,  and  who  shall 
be  persons  of  good  conduct  and  devoted  to  the  government ; 
these,  under  no  pretext  can  either  sell  or  give  liquor  to  Indians  or 
to  Slaves. 

"  They  will  give  immediate  notice  of  the  least  disturbance  at 
their  house  which  may  lead  to  disorder,  to  the  commandant  or 
nearest  Syndic  of  its  occurrence,  so  that  he  may  apply  the  most 
prompt  remedy.  And  all  otiier  persons  than  tliose  who  shall  be 
authorized  to  keep  tavern,  or  dramsliop,  who  shall  be  found  to 
have  sold  liquor,  will  undergo  for  the  first  offence,  three  days' 
imprisonment  and  two  dollars'  fine,  the  second  offence  50  dollars' 
fine  and  15  days'  imprisonment,  and  for  a  third  relapse,  they  shall 
be  sent  to  New  Orleans  under  safe  conduct  at  their  own  cost  and 
expense. 

"  2nd.  Every  person  whomsoever,  either  keeper  of  Tavern  or 
dramshop,  or  any  other  who  shall  be  found  to  have  given  or  sold 
liquor  to  Indians  will  be  at  once  arrested,  i)ut  in  irons,  and  sent 
under  escort  of  a  detachment  of  militia  at  his  cost  and  expense  to 
New  Orleans,  and  his  effects  will  be  seized  and  sequestered,  until 
the  decision  of  his  lordship,  the  Governor  General. 


334  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  3rd.  All  commmxlers  of  every  Post  will  bo  held  rcaponsiblc 
to  the  govornment  for  tlio  loant  neglect  of  the  articles  above,  and 
of  the  least  negligence,  in  listening  to  the  complaints  which  may 
be  made  him  on  the  subject,  and  to  make  the  strictest  inquiry, 
and  investigation  to  ascertain  the  truth. 

'^4th.  For  this  post  of  New  Madrid,  one  single  tave  n  'teiug 
suUlcient,  Mr.  John  B.  Olive  will  be  the  only  one  who  will  have 
the  privilege  of  selling  and  putting  off  liquors  in  conformity  to 
present  regiilationn,  and  for  the  convenience  of  travellers  on  the 
road  to  Illinois,  in  tliis  district,  Mr.  Kdward  Koberson  will  have 
the  right  to  sell  and  put  off  li(pior,  in  conforming  strictly  to 
present  regulations,  and  at  the  little  prairie,  Mr.  Charles  Guil- 
bault,  «&c.,  &c. 

"i5t/i.  The  two  tavern  keepers  al)Ove  named  will  pay  per  annum 
such  sum  as  a  tax  that  the  Governor  General  may  doom  just  to  l)e 
applied  to  the  construction  of  a  prison  at  this  Post. 

"This  order  will  be  translated  into  English  by  the  Interpreter  of 
the  King,  Mr.  J.  Char|)entier,  ijublislied  and  posted  up  in  the 
public  places  of  tliis  post,  and  at  the  doors  of  the  tavern  keepers 
above  named,  and  a  copy  will  be  sent  to  each  district  dependant 
on  this  post.' 


CHOUTEAU   VS.    LISA. 

In  the  year  1802,  four  merchants  of  St.  Louis,  en- 
gaged in  the  Indian  trade  up  the  Missouri  River,  viz., 
Manuel  Lisa,  Francis  M.  Benoit,  Gregory  Sarpy 
and  Charles  Sanguinet,  entered  into  an  association 
under  the  style  of  "Manuel  Lisa,  Benoit  &  Com- 
pany," with  a  view  to  extend  their  trade  with  the 
tribes  of  the  Little  Osage  nation. 

In  some  transaction,  Mr.  Aug't  Chouteau  became 


1  The  causes  which  led  to  the  foregoing  military  demonstration  will  be 
found  in  Delassus'  letter  to  Capt.  Stoddard  of  March  30,  1804  on  page. — 


CHOUTEAU  VS.  LISA.  335 

the  possessor  of  an  obligation  of  tho  company,  which 
became  due  April  30,  1803,  and  which  lie  presented 
for  payment  to  Mi'.  Liwa,  who  declined  paying  it, 
and  Mr.  Chouteau  had  it  protested  and  put  in  suit, 
whereupon  Messrs.  Benoit,  Sarpy  and  Sanguinet 
wrote  at  once  to  Mr.  Chouteau,  pr(>[)osin<,''  to  pay 
each  his  respective  one-fourth  oi-  three  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars  each. 

"  To  Mr  Charles  Dehaultde  La  sans,  Lieutenant-Cohnel  of  the  Ar- 
mit'9  and  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Uiqyer  Louisiana: 
"  Sir:  Auguste  Chouteau  humbly  bogs  and  has  the  honor  to 
represent  to  you,  that  he  is  the  owner  of  an  obligation  dated  Au- 
gust 7th  luht,  of  tlie  amount  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  due  this 
day,  agreed  to  by  the  i)artners  of  the  '  Trade  of  the  Osage  Na- 
tion,' under  the  name  of  'Manuel  Lisa,  Benoit  and  Company,' 
from  which  associates  your  petitioner  demanded  payment  of  the 
said  amount,  to  wiiicli  IMr.  Manuel  Lisa,  the  only  one  of  the  above 
partners,  refused  as  far  as  concerned  his  portion  of  interest  in 
said  partnership.  However  Mr.  Manuel  Lisa  should  know  as  well 
as  any  one  else,  that  a  merchant  who  has  accepted  a  simple  obliga- 
tion, payable  to  bearer  at  a  certain  time  without  any  reservation  or 
especial  condition,  can  i)rosent  no  reasons  whicli  will  exempt  iiim 
from  fulfilling  his  written  promises.  For  if  it  was  otherwise, 
what  would  become  of  tlie  safety  and  confidence  tiiat  one 
sliould  possess  in  such  actions,  which  alone  form  tlie  founda- 
tions and  supi)ort  of  commerce.  For  these  reasons  your  petitioner 
prays  it  may  please  you  to  direct  Mr.  Manuel  Lisa,  Benoit  and 
Company  to  pay  at  once  and  without  delay,  the  above  named 
sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  witiiout  excepting  any  portion 
which  Mr.  Manuel  Lisa  pretends  he  sliould  refuse  to  pay,  on  pain 
of  seeing  himself  constrained  for  all  losses,  delay,  claims  and  in- 
terest, and  so  do  justice 

"  AuGcsTE  Chouteau. 
"  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  April  30,  1803  " 


336  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  Mr.  Josef  Horttiz  will  notify  Messrs.  Manuel  Lisa,  Francis 
M.  Benoit,  Gregoire  Sarpy  and  Char)  as  Sanguinet,  partners  in 
the  '  Trade  of  the  Osage  Nation,'  to  pay  in  one  amount  the  said 
obligation. 

"  Delassus." 

"  To  Mr.  Charles  Dehault  de  Lasms,  Lieut.  Col.  Commandant, 
and  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  Sir, 
"  The  undersigned  have  the  honor  to  represent  to  you  that  Mr. 
Chouteau  presented  the  petition  against  them  April  30th  last,  to 
collect  the  amount  of  an  obligation  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars, 
signed  '  Manuel  Lisa,  Benoit  &  Company.'  Tiie  undersigned  did 
not  refuse  its  payment,  tliey  expect  to  pay  each  one  his  portion 
separately,  recognizing  between  themselves  no  title  of  a  partner- 
ship, and  having  no  contract  whatever.  It  is  true  they  explored 
together  the  posts  of  the  Osages,  each  one  furnishing  his  in- 
dividual part,  but  assuming  no  responsibility  ;  thej'  had  no  style  or 
title  authorizing  them  to  enter  into  obligations  in  the  name  of  the 
association,  as  it  is  true  none  ewv  existed. and  the  payments  were 
always  made  individually.  Tl  j  have  decided  to  pay  each  his 
portion. 

"  The  petitioners  hope  you  will  do  justice  to  their  request. 
"  vSt.  Lol-18,  May  2,  IFOo. 

"  Gregoiue  Sarpy. 

"  Charles  Sanguinet. 
"  Frans.  M.  Benoit. 

^^  To  Don  Charles  Dehault  de  Lassns  Lieut.   Governor  &c.,  sub- 
stance. 

"•  Acknowledges  the  receipt  of  the  Governor's  order  to  pay  Mr. 
Chouteau  375  dollars  his  i)roportion  of  the  1500  dollars  claimed 
by  Mr.  Chouteau,  amount  of  the  note  of  '  Manuel  Lisa,  Benoit 
and  Company.  '  protested  by  Chouteau,  the  protest  sent  by  C.  to 
the  Superior  Tribunal  of  this  province  at  New  Orleans,  with 
power  amply  sufTicient  to  Sir  Knight  Register,  Don  John  de 
Castanado,  to  establish  the  nullity  of  other  notes  for  this  same 
debt. 

"He  humbly  replies  to  Mr.  Chouteau's  petition  his  firm  de- 
termination  to   postpone  for   the  present   any   further   steps  in 


CHOUTEAU  FS.  LISA.  337 

the  matter,  until  the  Superior  Tribunal  shall  deliberate,  and 
justly  decide  the  merits  of  the  cai-e,  and  give  a  final  decree 
tliereon. 

"His  course  in  the  matter  does    not  proceed  from  malicious 
motives,  but  from  necessity. 
"  With  all  due  respect  &c. 
"St.  Louis,  May  2,  1803. 

"  Manuel  De  Lisa.  " 

"  To  Mr.  Charles  Dehault  de  Lassus,   Lieut.  Col.  of  the  Army, 
and  Lieut.  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana  : 

"Sir — Your  petitioner  has  the  honor  to  represent  to  you,  that 
he  has  been  notified  by  Mr.  Miuiuel  Lisa  of  his  formal  refusal  to 
pay  the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  seventy  five  dollars,  for  his 
proportion  of  the  obligation  consented  to  by  liim  in  the  name  of 
those  interested  in  the  trade  of  the  Osage  Nation.  Since  that  re- 
fusal Messrs.  Charles  Sanguinet,Gregoire  Sarpy  and  Frans.  M  Ben- 
oit  notified  the  holder  that  they  were  ready  each  to  pay  his  part, 
amounting  together  to  eleven  hundred  and  twenty  five  dollars  — 
owing  to  which  and  the  refusal  of  the  fourtli  party  in  interested, 
your  petitioner  requests  your  justice  to  direct  Messrs.  Greg'e 
Sarpy,  Chas.  Sanguinet  and  Frans.  M.  Benoit  depositories  of  the 
funds  of  all  interested,  to  withhold  in  their  hands  the  sum 
of  three  hundred  and  seventy  five  dollars,  which  is  due  by 
Mr.  Lisa,  to  release  it  at  once  from  the  liands  of  your  petit- 
ioner, so  that  with  the  sum  of  eleven  luindrcd  and  twenty 
five  from  the  three  other  interested  parties  in  said  trade, 
for  whose  operations,  the  above  payment  is  clauned  and  do 
justice. 

"  August  Chouteau.  " 
"  St.  Louis,  May  3,  1803. 

"  On  the  same  day,  May  3rd,  the  Governor  by  his  notary, 
decreed  to  Mr.  De  Lisa  to  pay  his  proportion  as  the  others,  and  at 
same  time  to  the  three  others,  Sarpy,  Sanguinet  and  Benoit  to  with- 
hold from  the  funds  of  the  association  the  amount  due  by  Lisa, 
with  the  costs  &c. 


338  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

The  bill  for  which  made  out  by  Horttiz  is  as  follows": 

To  the  Judge  (Governor)  5  decrees  and  sig- 
natures, 4  Reals  20  R  $2.50, 
"     "     Notary                  8  notifications  4     "      32       4.00, 


13  4  52      86.50, 


Received  Payment  of  this  bill  of  costs,  St.  Louis,  May  4,  1803. 

J08EPH  HOBTTIZ. 


NICHOLAS    ST.  ANDUE. 


"  In  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  May  11th,  1803, 1,  Joseph 
Horttiz,  Notary  public  in  this  town,  by  order  of  Don  Carlos 
Dehault  Delassus,  Lieut.  Col.  and  Lieut.  Governor,  went  to  the 
residence  of  Nicliolas  Andre  in  this  same  village,  accompanied  by 
Francis  Valois  and  Francis  A.  Horttiz  witnesses,  to  take  an  exact 
note  of  a  Pirogue  that  the  said  Nicliolas  St.  Andre  met  adrift  in 
the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  with  no  one  in  it,  filled  with  water, 
and  the  following  articles, — One  deei  skin,  one  shaved  deer  skin, 
two  large  beaver  pelts,  to  do.  middling  size,  and  eight  others 
small,  all  wet,  which  after  being  dryed,  were  weighed  and 
marked,  and  I  the  Notary  took  possession  of  said  peltries,  until 
the  Government  should  dispose  of  them,  and  the  pirogue  was  left 
with  the  said  Nicholas  St.  Andre,  until  disposed  of  in  like  manner, 
and  finding  nothing  more,  the  said  St.  Andre  certified  that  it  was 
all  the  contents  of  the  pirogue,  which  was  signed  by  all  but  the 
exp(ment  who  made  his  cross  after  being  read  to  him,  tiie  same 
day,  month  and  year  as  above.  Fkancis  Valois, 

"  Francis  Houtiz, 
"Joseph  Hokttiz. 


INQUEST   ON   A   MOSCOU    INDLAN. 

"  In  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois  January  third,  eighteen 
hundred  and  four,  I,  Joseph  Horttiz  in  virtue  of  orders  from  Don 
Carlos   Dehault  Deiassus,  Lieul;.  Col.  and  Lieutenant  Governor 


PURCHASE  OP  LOUISIANA.  339 

of  this  Upper  Louisiana,  that  in  one  of  the  cross  streets  of  the 
town,  a  dead  body  was  lying.  I,  said  Notary  repaired  with  the 
necessary  witnesses  Juan  Robayna  and  Pedro  Castaneda  to  ex- 
amine into  tlie  affair,  and  having  reached  the  place,  we  found  the 
body  to  be  that  of  an  Indian  rolled  up  in  a  blanket,  with  a  white 
handkerchief  in  the  cavity,  and  immediately  came  and  reported 
the  same  to  the  Governor. 

"At  once  and  by  his  orders  to  obtain  all  the  necessary  infor- 
mation concerning  the  body,  and  how  he  came  by  his  death,  we 
went  again  to  the  place,  and  met  there  Batiste  Thibeau,  opposite 
whose  house  the  dead  body  lay,  who  appeared  to  be  a  Mascou 
Indian,  and  learnt  that  he  and  three  or  four  others  in  company 
of  the  same  nation,  had  been  visiting  the  place  several  times  that 
same  morning.  We  sent  the  body  to  the  quarters  of  the  soldiers, 
to  be  interred  according  to  the  usual  custom  in  similar  cases,  put 
the  body  in  a  coffin,  buried  it  and  enclosed  the  grave  with  a  fence 
of  stakes  and  a  white  banderita,  and  with  the  witnesses  certified 
to  the  same,  and  made  our  report  to  the  Governor. 

"  Juan  Robayna. 
"  Joseph  HoRTTiz,  Pedro  Castaneda." 


TREATY    OF    PURCHASE     OF     LOUISIANA,     BY    THE     UNITED     STATES    OF 
AMERICA  FROM  THE    REPUBLIC  OF  FRANCE,  APRIL  30,    1803. 

"The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  first 
Consul  of  the  French  Republic,  in  the  name  of  the  French  people, 
always  animated  with  the  desire  to  remove  all  misunderstandings 
in  relation  to  the  subjects  of  discussion  mentioned  in  the  second 
and  fifteenth  articles  of  the  convention  of  the  8th  Veudemiaire, 
year  9,  (Sept.  30,  1800),  in  relation  to  tlie  claims  of  tlie  United 
States,  in  virtue  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  Madrid,  the  27th  of 
October,  1795,  between  his  Catholic  Majesty  and  the  said  United 
States:  wishing  to  maintain  the  union  and  friendship  which  at  the 
period  of  the  aforesaid  convention  was  happily  re-established 
between  the  two  nations,  have  named  respectively  their  plenipo- 
tentiaries as  follows :  — 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  with  the  advice 


340  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

and  consent  of  the  Senate  of  said  States,  names  as  bis  minister 
plenipotentiary  Robert  R.  Livingston,  and  James  Monroe,  minis- 
ter plenipotentiary,  and  envoy  extraordinary  of  the  United  States 
to  the  government  of  the  French  Republic  —  and  the  first  Consul 
in  the  name  of  the  French  people,  names  the  citizen  Francis 
Barbe  Marbois,  minister  of  the  public  Treasury,  who  after  hav- 
ing exchanged  their  respective  powers  have  agreed  upon  the  fol- 
lowing articles :  — 

"  ARTICLE  1st. 

•'  In  virtue  of  article  3rd,  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  St.  Ilde- 
fonso,  the  9th  Vendemiaire  year  9  (October  1,  1800)  between 
the  First  Consul  of  the  French  Republic  and  his  Catholic  Majesty, 
it  was  stipulated  as  follows :  His  Catholic  Majesty  promises  and 
binds  himself  on  his  part,  to  cede  to  the  French  Republic,  six 
months  after  the  full  and  complete  execution  of  the  conditions 
and  agreements  of  the  said  article  in  relation  to  his  Royal  High- 
ness, the  Duke  of  Parma ;  the  colony  and  Province  of  Louisiana, 
in  all  its  extent  as  now  actually  possessed  by  Spain  and  other 
States. 

"  In  consequence  of  said  treaty,  and  particularly  of  the  third  ar- 
ticle, the  French  Republic  enjoying  the  incontestible  right  of 
domain  and  possession  of  the  said  territory,  the  First  Consul  de- 
sirous of  giving  to  the  United  States,  incontestible  preofs  of  his 
friendship,  cedes  to  them  by  these  presents,  in  ihe  name 
of  the  French  Republic  forever,  and  in  full  sovereignty,  the 
said  Territory,  with  all  its  rights  and  dependencies,  as  fullj' 
and  In  the  same  manner  as  he  acquired  it,  in  virtue  of  the  above 
cited  treaty  concluded  with  his  Catholic  Majesty. 

•'  ARTICLE    2nd. 

"  In  the  cession  made  by  the  preceding  article,  there  is  included 
all  the  Islands  adjacent  and  belonging  to  Louisiana,  all  the  lots 
and  public  places,  the  vacant  levees,  the  buildings,  fortifications, 
Barracks,  and  other  buildings  that  have  no  owners  ;  the  archives, 
papers,  and  instructions  relating  to  the  domain  and  Sovereignty  of 
Louisiana,  will  be  placed  into  the  possession  of  the  commissioners 


PURCHASE  OP  LOUISIANA.  341 

of  the  United  States,  and  copies  of  the  same  in  good  and  due 
form  will  be  furnished  to  the  magistrates  and  municipal  officers 
that  may  be  necessary'  to  them. 

"  ARTICLE  3kd. 

"The  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  territory,  will  be  incorporated 
into  the  Union  of  the  States  and  admitted,  as  soon  as  possible, 
conformably  to  the  requirements  of  tlie  Federal  Constitution,  to 
enjoy  all  the  rights,  advantages  and  immunities  of  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  and  during  this  time  they  will  be  upheld  and 
protected  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  libertj',  property,  and  religion 
they  profess. 

"  ARTICLE  4th. 

"The  French  governmentwill  send  a  commissioner  to  Louisiana, 
who  will  prepare  all  that  is  necessary ;  as  much  to  receive  from 
the  officers  of  his  Catliolic  Majesty  the  said  territory  with  its  de- 
pendencies in  behalf  of  the  French  Republic,  if  that  has  not 
already  been  done  ;  as  to  transmit  it  in  the  name  of  the  French 
Republic  to  the  commiasi.ou^s  or  agent  of  the  United  States. 

"  ARTICLE  5th. 

"  Immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty  on  the 
part  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  of  that  of  the 
First  Consul  if  it  has  been  done  ;  the  commissioner  of  the  French 
Republic,  will  deliver  up  all  the  military  posts  of  New  Orleans, 
as  of  other  parts  of  the  said  Territory,  to  the  commissioner  ap- 
pointed by  the  President  to  receive  possession ;  all  the  French  and 
Spanish  troops  that  may  he  there,  will  cease  to  occupy  the  said 
Posts,  from  the  moment  of  the  delivery  of  possession,  and  will  be 
embarked,  if  possible,  in  the  course  of  three  months  after  the 
ratification  of  this  treaty. 

"  ARTICLE  6th. 

' '  The  United  States  engages  and  promises  to  execute  all  the  treat- 
ies and  articles,  that  might  have  been  agreed  on  between  the  Indian 


342  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

tribes  antl  Spain,  until  such  time  as,  by  mutual  consent  between 
the  United  States  and  said  tribes  or  people,  other  suitable  articles 
are  agreed  on, 

"article  7th. 

"  As  it  is  equally  advantageous  to  the  commerce  of  France  and 
the  United  States  to  foster  the  intercourse  of  the  two  nations  for 
a  limited  period,  in  the  country  ceded  by  the  present  treaty,  until 
arrangements  are  made  relative  to  the  commerce  of  the  two  na- 
tions ;  the  contracting  parties  have  agreed  that  all  the  French 
vessels  coming  directly  from  France  or  her  colonies,  loaded  exclu- 
sively with  her  productions,  and  also  that  those  coming  directly 
from  Spain  or  her  colonies,  and  loaded  in  like  manner  with  her 
productions,  will  be  admitted  for  the  period  of  twelve  years  into 
the  ports  of  New  Orleans,  as  well  as  in  all  tliose  of  the  ceded 
Territory,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  vessels  of  the  United 
States  coming  directly  from  France  or  Spain  or  their  colonies ; 
without  being  subject  to  other  duties  on  their  cargoes  or  other 
imposts  than  those  paid  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
during  the  period  of  time  above  specified  no  other  nation  shall 
partake  of  this  privilege  in  the  said  Territory ;  the  twelve  years 
to  commence  three  months  after  the  exchange  of  ratifications, 
whether  at  Paris  or  in  the  United  States ;  well  understood  that  this 
artic^  has  for  its  object  to  favor  the  manufactures,  commerce, 
cha'.ges  and  navigation  of  France  and  Spain  alone,  as  to  the  im- 
portations'which  these  two  nations  may  make  into  the  above  said 
ports  of  the  United  States,  without  detriment  to  the  regulations 
which  the  said  United  States  may  adopt  for  the  exportation  of  the 
products  or  merchandise  of  their  States  —  nor  to  their  rights  to 

establish  others. 

"  ARTICLE  8th. 

"  After  the  expiration  of  the  twelve  years,  all  french  vessels 
will  be  treated  on  the  same  footing  as  the  most  favored  nation, 
in  the  above  mentioned  ports. 

"  ARTICLE  9th. 

"The  especial  convention  signed  this  day  by  the  respective 
ministers,  having  for  its  object  the  payment  of  the  debts  due  to 


PURCHASE  OP  LOUISIANA.  343 

citizens  of  the  United  States  by  the  French  Republic,  prior  to  the 
30th  Sept.  1800,  8th  Vendemiaire  year  9,  is  approved;  anu  to  be 
put  in  full  execution,  as  stipulated  in  the  present  treaty,  it  will 
be  ratified  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  manner ;  so  that  the 
one  will  not  be  without  the  other.  Anotlier  special  convention, 
signed  the  same  date  as  the  present  treat}',  relative  to  the  definitive 
law  between  the  contracting^  parties,  and  which  has  been  in  like 
manner  approved,  will  also  be  confirmed  at  the  same  time. 

"  AKTicLE  10th. 

"  The  present  treaty  will  be  ratified  in  good  and  proper  form,  and 
the  ratifications  exchanged  within  six  montiis  after  the  date  of  sig- 
natures of  the  ministers  plenipotentiary,  or  sooner  if  possible  ;  in 
faith  of  which  the  ministers  plenipotentiary  have  signed  these  ar- 
ticles in  French  and  in  English,  remarking  however  that  the  present 
treaty  is  primitively  in  the  f  rench  idiom,  and  have  thereto  affixed 
their  seals. 

"  Executed  at  Paris  the  tenth  Floreal,  eleventh  year  of  the 
French  Repulilic,  the  30th  April  1803. 

"  Signed  Robert  R.  Livingston, 

"  James  Monroe, 
"  F.  Barbe  Marbois." 


convention   between   the     united   states    of   AMERICA,    AND   THE 

FRENCH    REPUBLIC. 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the 
First  Consul  of  the  French  Republic,  in  the  name  of  the  french 
people:  In  consequence  of  the  treaty  of  cession  of  Louisiana 
which  has  been  signed  this  day,  desiring  to  settle  definitively 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  said  cession,  have  for  that  purpose 
authorized  the  plenipotentiaries ;  to  wit,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  of  the  said 
States,  has  appointed  for  their  plenipotentiary  Robert  R.  Liv- 
ingston minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States,  and  James 
Monroe,  Minister  plenipotentiary  and  Envoy  extraordinary  of 
the  said  States  to  the  government  of  the  French  Republic,   and 


344  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  first  Consul  of  the  French  Repul)lic  in  the  name  of  the  french 
people,  has  appointed  for  plenipotentiary  of  the  said  Republic, 
the  citizen  Francis  Barbe  Marbols ;  who  in  virtue  of  their  full 
powers,  this  day  exchanged,  have  agreed  upon  the  following 
articles  — 


"  The  government  of  the  the  United  States  obligates  itself  to 
to  pay  to  the  french  government  in  the  manner  specified  in  the 
next  article,  the  sum  of  sixty  million  of  livres,  independent  of  that 
which  will  be  fixed  upon,  by  another  convention,  to  paj'  the  debts 
which  France  has  contracted  towards  the  citzens  of  the  United 
States. 


"  For  the  payment  of  the  sixty  millions  of  livres  stipulated 
in  the  preceding:;  article,  the  United  States  will  create  a  stock  of 
eleven  millions  two  hundred  and  fifty  tliousand  dollars,  bearing 
interest  at  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  half-yearly  at  Lon- 
don, Amsterdam,  or  at  Paris,  being  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty  seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  six  months,  in 
the  proportions  that  the  French  government  will  determine  on  for 
these  places.  The  principal  of  this  fund  re-imbursed  at  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States  in  annual  payments  of  not  less 
than  three  millions  each,  the  first  of  which  will  commence  fifteen 
years  after  the  date  of  the  exchange  of  ratifications  ;  tliis  fund  will  be 
remitted  to  the  French  government,  or  to  any  other  person  who  will 
be  empowered  to  receive  it,  in  three  months,  at  the  furthest,  after 
the  exchange  of  ratifications  of  the  treaty,  and  of  the  possession 
of  Louisiana  on  part  of  the  United  States  ;  it  is  also  agreed  that  if 
the  French  government  desires  to  earlier  realize  the  capital  of  this 
stock  by  disposing  of  it  in  Europe,  they  will  take  the  proper 
steps,  as  well  to  augment  the  credit  of  the  United  States,  as  to 
give  greater  value  to  said  stock. 

"  ARTICLE  THIRD. 

*'  It  is  also  agreed  that  the  dollar  of  the  United  States,  speci- 
fied in  the  present  convention  shall  be  fixed  at  five  livres  and 


PUKCHASE  OF  LOUISIANA.  345 

eight  sous  tournois ;  the  present  convention  shall  be  ratified 
in  good  and  due  form,  and  the  ratifications  exciianged  in  the 
period  of  six  montlis  from  this  day's  date,  or  sooner  if  jmssible. 
In  faith  of  which  tlie  respective  i)lenipotentiaries  have  signed  the 
said  articles,  in  both  French  and  Knglish,  declaring  also  that  the 
present  treaty  was  made  and  primitively  written  in  the  french 
idiom,  to  which  they  have  attached  their  seals. 

"  Done  at  Paris  the  lUth  Floreal,  the  Uth  year  of  the  French 
Republic,  April  30,  1803. 

"  RoBEUT  R.  Livingston, 

"  James  Monroe, 

"  Fran's  Bakbe  Marbois." 

convention   between    the    french   heplblic    and   the   united 

states  ok  america. 

"  The  president  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  First 
Consul  of  the  French  Republic  in  the  name  of  the  french  people, 
after  having,  by  a  treaty  of  this  date,  terminated  all  dilficulties 
relating  to  Louisiana ;  always  desiring  to  establish  on  a  solid 
basis,  the  friendship  which  unites  the  two  nations ;  more  and 
more  animated  with  the  desire  to  accomplish  the  2nd  and  15th 
articles  of  the  Convention  of  the  8th  Vendemiaire,  year  9  of  tlie 
French  Republic  (30th  Sept.)  1800,  and  to  assure  the  payment 
of  the  amount  due  by  France  to  Citizens  of  the  United  States, 
have  respectively  appointed  for  their  plenipotentiaries,  namely, 
the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America  with  the  ad- 
vice and  consent  of  their  Senate,  has  appointed  Robert  R. 
Livingston  Minister  plenipotentiary,  and  James  Monroe,  also  min- 
ister plenipotentiary,  and  Envoy  extraordinary  of  the  said 
United  States  near  the  government  of  the  Frencli  Republic  ;  and  the 
First  Consul  in  the  name  of  the  French  pe^ple  has  appointed  the 
citizen  Francis  Barbe  Marbois,  minister  of  the  public  Treasury, 
who  after  exchanging  their  full  powers,  agreed  upon  the  follow- 
ing articles  — 

"  ARTICLE   IST. 

"  The  debts  due  by  France  to  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
contracted  prior  to  the  8th  Vendemiaire,    year  9  of  the  French 


34(3  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

Republic  (Sept.  30,  1800)  will  be  paid  in  the  following  manner, 
with  interest  at  Hix  per  cent  fruiu  the  date  of  the  presentation  of 
ttieir  claims  by  the  parties  interested  to  the  Freoch  Governmeot. 

"  ARTICLE  2nd. 

"  The  clairaa  to  be  paid  by  the  preceding  article,  are  those  des- 
ignated in  the  note  annexed  to  the  present  convention,  which  with 
interest  must  not  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty  millions  of  livres ; 
the  claims  included  in  said  note  which  will  be  found  rejected 
in  the  Articles  following,  caanot  be  admitted  to  the  benefit  of  this 
provision. 

"  ARTICLE  3rd. 

"  The  principal  and  interest  of  said  debts  will  be  paid  by 
the  United  States,  through  orders  drawn  by  their  ministers 
plenipotentiary  on  their  Treasury ;  these  orders  will  be  payable 
sixty  days  after  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  the  treaty 
and  conventions  this  day  signed ;  and  after  the  french  commis- 
sioners shall  have  placed  tliose  of  the  United  States  in  possession 
of  Louisiana. 

"article  4Tn. 

"  It  is  especially  agreed  tliat  tlie  foregoing  articles  are  confined 
exclusively  to  the  debts  contracted  to  the  citizens  collectively  who 
have  been,  or  may  yet  be  creditors  of  France  for  provisions  em- 
bargoed and  taken  on  the  high  seas,  and  for  which  tlie  claim  was 
duly  made  within  the  time  specified  in  said  convention  of  8th 
Vendemiaire,  year  9  (Sept.  30,  1800). 

"ARTICLE  Sth. 

"The  preceding  articles  will  be  only  applicable  (I.  O. ):  Jirst. 
to  prizes  which  the  prize  court  have  ordered  to  be  restored,  well 
understood  that  the  claimant  can  have  no  relief  from  the  United 
States,  otherwise  than  he  could  have  had  from  the  French  gov- 
ernment. Second,  to  the  claims  specified  in  the  above-mentioned, 
2nd  article  of  the  convention,  contra 3ted  prior  to  the  8th  Ven- 
demiaire, year  9  (Sept.  30,  1800)  the  payment  of  which  has  here- 


PUKCIIASE  OF  LOUISIANA.  847 

tofore  been  demanded  from  the  actual  government  of  France,  and 
for  whicli  the  creditors  liave  the  right  to  demand  tlie  protection 
of  the  United  States. 

AKTici-E  (Jth. 

"For  tlie  purpose  of  amicably  clearin<?  up  the  various  questiims 
that  may  arise  from  tlie  preceding?  article ;  the  ministers  pleni- 
potentiary of  tiie  United  States  will  appoint  tL.ee  persons,  who 
will  act  provisionally  at  this  time,  having  full  power  to  examine 
without  delay  all  the  statements  of  the  various  claims  already 
liquidateil  by  the  offices  estabiisiied  for  tliat  purpose  by  the 
French  Republic,  and  to  satisfy  themselves  if  they  are  ad- 
missible into  the  classes  of  claims  designated  in  the  present  con- 
vention, and  based  upon  tiie  regulations  there  found,  or  if  they 
are  included  in  some  one  of  the  exceptions.  And  declaring 
by  their  certificates,  that  the  debt  is  due  to  American  citizens,  or 
their  representatives,  and  existing  l)efore  the  8th  Vendemiaire  year 
9  (Sept.  30,  bSOO)  the  debtor  (creditor?)  will  receive  an  order 
on  the  Treasury  of  tiie  United  States  in  the  manner  prescribed  in 
the  third  article. 

ARTICLE  7tII. 

"  The  same  agents  will  also  possess  the  authority  to  examine  the 
claims  presented  for  examination,  and  to  certify  those  that  should 
be  allowed,  in  marking  them,  to  shew  that  they  are  not  to  be 
shut  out  with  those  excluded  by  the  present  convention. 

ARTICLE  8tII. 

"The  same  agents  will  also  examine  the  claims  which  may  not 
have  been  presented  for  liquidation,  and  will  certify  that  they  de- 
cide them  admissible  for  liquidation. 

"  ARTICLE  9th. 

"  According  as  the  debts  designated  in  these  articles  will  be  ad- 
mitted ;  tliey  will  be  paid  with  interest  at  six  per  cent  by  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States. 


348  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


"  AKTICLE    10th. 

"To  remove  all  doubt  on  the  above  mentioned  conditions  and  to 
reject  all  unjust  and  exorbitant  demands ;  tlie  commercial  agent  of 
the  United  States  at  Paris,  in  his  capacity  as  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary of  the  United  States,  will  appoint  if  he  thinlis  proper,  an  agent 
to  assist  in  the  operation  of  the  offices,  and  examine  the  claims  pre- 
ferred. If  he  thinlcs  the  debt  is  not  sufficiently  proven,  or  that  it  is 
perhaps  comprised  in  the  rules  of  the  15th  article  above  mentioned ; 
and  if  notwithstanding  his  opinion,  the  offices  established  by  the 
French  government  should  decide  that  the  debt  should  Ite  set- 
tled, he  will  pass  his  observations  thereon  to  the  judicial  courts 
of  the  United  States,  which  will  at  once  examine  into  it,  and  give 
the  result  to  the  minister  of  the  United  States,  who  will  transmit 
his  observations  in  like  manner  to  the  minister  of  the  Treasury 
of  the  French  Republic,  and  the  French  government  will  then  de- 
cide definitively  on  the  case. 

"  ARTICLE  11th. 

'*  All  decisions  must  be  made  within  the  period  of  one  year, 
from  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications,  after  which  period  no  claim 
will  be  considered. 

"article  12th. 

"  In  cases  where  the  claims  for  debts  contracted  by  the  French 
government  with  citizens  of  the  United  States,  since  the  8th  Ven- 
demiaire  year  9  (Sept.  30,  1800),  are  not  included  in  this  conven- 
tion ;  the  payment  of  the  same  can  be  claimed  and  prosecuetd  as 
if  no  convention  had  been  agreed  on. 

"article  13th. 

"This  convention  will  be  ratified  in  good  and  due  form,  and  the 
ratifications  exchanged  within  six  months  from  the  date  of  the  sig- 
natures of  the  ministers  plenipotentiaries,  or  sooner  if  possible. 

"  In  faith  of  which  the  ministers  plenipotentiaries  respectively, 
have  signed  the  foregoing  articles  in  French  and  in  English,  de- 


PURCHASE  OF  LOUISIANA.  349 

daring  that  the  present  treaty  was  first  made  and  written  in  the 

French  idiom,  to  which  they  have  affixed  their  seals. 

Done  at  Paris  the  10th  Floreal,  year  11th  of  the  French  Republic. 

"  April  30, 1803. 

"  Robert  R.  Livingston, 

"  Jasies  Monroe, 

"  Francis  Barbe  Marbois." 

Ratified  July  1803.i 

PURCHASE   OF   LOUISIANA   . 

The  principal  causes  that  led  to  the  acquisition 
of  Louisiana  by  the  United  States  are  these :  A  iter 
the  achievement  of  our  independence,  and  our  terri- 
tory bordering  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers 
became  gradually  settled  with  new  comers,  our  peo- 
ple in  that  region  of  country  were  not  long  in  dis- 
covering that  it  was  very  essential  for  their  future 
advance  and  prosperity  that  they  should  have  an  out- 
let to  the  ocean  through  the  lower  Mississippi,  the 
country  being  then  owned  on  both  sides  for  some 
distance  up  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  by  Spain. 
For  this  purpose  a  treaty  was  concluded  in  October 
1795,  between  Spain  and  the  United  States,  which 
provided  for  the  settlement  of  their  respective  bound- 
aries, and  the  joint  navigation  of  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi River  by  the  people  of  the  two  countries. 

After  several  gross  infractions  of  this  treaty  in 
the  course  of  the  next  five  succeeding  years  by  the 


'  From  a  copy  printed  at  Paris  in  1804. 


360  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIS. 

Spanish  authorities  at  New  Orleans,  Mr.  Jefferson, 
on  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency  in  1801,  commenced 
the  incipient  measures  to  negotiate  for  the  acquisi- 
tion of  the  country  by  the  United  States,  by  its  pur- 
chase, which  he  eventually  accomplished. 

In  the  year  1797,  Don  Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos 
was  appointed  governor-general  of  Louisiana  as 
successor  to  the  Baron  de  Carondelet.  Governor  De 
Lemos  died  on  July  18,  1799,  and  the  Marquis  of 
Casa  Calvo  was  sent  over  from  Havana  as  provis- 
ional governor  until 

In  June,  1801,  Don  Juan  Manuel  de  Salcedo  ar- 
rived at  New  Orleans  as  governor-general  to  suc- 
ceed the  deceased  governor  Gayoso. 

In  meantime,  by  the  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso, 
October  1,  1800,  Spain  retroceded  to  France  the 
province  of  Louisiana,  retaining  possession  of  it, 
however,  during  the  next  three  years,  until  sold  by 
France  to  the  United  States. 

March  26,  1803. —  Pierre  Clement  de  Laussat,  the 
new  French  colonial  prefect  appointed  by  the  First 
Consul,  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  and  on  the  succeed- 
ing day,  March  27th,  issued  his  proclamation,  an- 
nouncing to  the  inhabitants  the  retrocession  to 
France. 

While  awaiting  the  arrival  of  General  Victor, 
the  new  French  governor-general,  with  his  troops,  to 
take  possession,    news    arrived  of  the  sale    of  the 


DOCUMENTS  REGARDING  THE  TRANSFER.  351 

country  to  the  United  States,  at  Paris,  on  the  30th 
of  April. 

The  treaties  were  ratified  in  July. 

On  November  30,  1803,  Lower  Louisiana  was 
formally  transfen'ed  to  France  at  New  Orleans,  and 
on  Monday  December  20,  following,  it  was  trans- 
ferred by  Laussat  to  Governor  Claibonie  and  Gen- 
eral James  Wilkinson,  U.  S.  Army,  commissioners 
of  the  United  States  appointed  to  receive  it. 

The  following  documents  having  relation  to  the 
transfer  at  St.  Louis  of  Upper  Louisiana  are  now 
presented  seriatim :  — 

DOCUMENT    NO.   1. 

"  The  King,  our  Sovereign,  having  detennined  to  retrocede  this 
province  of  Louisiana  to  tlie  French  Republic,  according  to  the 
announcement  in  the  royal  order  issued  at  Barcelona  on  the  15th 
of  October  1802,  to  that  effect:  and  having  also  commissioned  us 
to  carry  the  same  into  effect,  by  his  subsequent  royal  order  dated 
at  Madrid  on  the  18th  of  January,  1803,  we  have  put  in  exe- 
cution the  intentions  of  the  Sovereign,  by  delivering  up  the  gov- 
ernment of  this  place,  and  the  command  of  the  province  to  the 
Colonial  Prefect  Pedro  Clement  Laussat,  Commissioner  of  the 
French  republic,  on  the  30th  day  of  November  of  the  present 
year,  and  you  are  hereby  requested  to  deliver  up  to  the  agent  or 
officer  of  the  said  prefect  who  may  be  authorized  by  him  to  re- 
ceive from  you  the  command  of  the  post  and  its  dependencies, 
now  under  the  orders  of  your  excellency,  as  soon  as  he  shall 
present  himself  before  you,  under  the  formalities  of  an  inventory 
and  valuations  to  be  made  by  skilful  persons  in  that  post,  upon 
oath  to  act  with  due  impartiality,  of  the  buildings  which  belong  to 
the  King,  not  including  the  artillery  and  other  munitions  of  war, 
which  must  be  remitted  entire  to  this  place. 


352  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  Under  the  same  formalities  of  an  inventory,  the  archives  with 
the  papers  and  documents  which  concern  only  the  inhabitants  of 
the  district  and  their  property  shall  be  delivered,  taking  for  tht 
whole  a  receipt,  in  order  that  there  always  may  be  evidence  of 
what  has  been  delivered  upon  our  part  to  the  French  republic, 
and  cause  the  same  to  appear  on  the  general  inventory. 

"  We  particularly  enjoin  upon  your  excellency  the  punctual  ex- 
ecution of  the  foregoing,  for  which  you  are  authorized  to  avail 
yourself  of  all  the  means  that  may  be  found  in  the  district  under 
your  charge. 

"New  Orleans,  30th  December,  1803. 

"  Manuel  de  Salcedo, 

"  The  Marquis  of  Casa  Calvo. 

"To  Don  Caulos  de  Lassus, 
"  Commander  of  Illinois. 

DOCUMENT   NO.  2. 

"New  Orleans,  21  Nivose,  year  12  (Jan'y  12,  1804). 
"  The   Colonial  Prefect  coin,  of  the  French   government,  to   Mr. 

Dehault  de  la  Suze,  Lieut.  Governor  of  Illinois  at  St.  Louis. 

"  I  have  this  day  forwarded  to  Mr.  Stoddard,  captain  of  artillery 
in  the  United  States  army,  and  who  is  authorized  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  territory  and  the  establishments  where  you  command 
for  his  Catholic  Majesty,  the  following  documents,  viz. : 

First.  A  letter,  unsealed,  from  M.  de  Salcedo,  and  marquis  of 
Casa  Calvo,  commissioners  of  his  C.  M.  dated  the  Slst  of  De- 
cember last,  which  authorizes  you  to  give  possession  of  the  post 
where  you  now  command,  to  the  officer  or  agent  that  may  be  sent 
by  me  to  receive  it,  in  virtue  of  the  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  by 
which  Louisiana  was  retroceded  to  the  French  republic. 

Secotid.  A  letter  written  by  me  to  Mr.  Stoddard,  which  was 
approved  by  the  commissioners  of  the  United  States,  who  were 
sent  here  for  the  execution  of  the  treaty  of  Paris,  by  which  France 
has  ceded  Louisiana  to  the  United  States.  By  said  letter  bearing 
date  this  day,  I  transferred  to  said  officer  my  power  to  receive 
from  you,  in  the  name  of  the  French  republic,  the  military  and 
civil  possession  of  that  part  of  Louisiana  over  which  you  com- 


DOCUMENTS  REGARDING  THE  TRANSFER.      353 

mand,  and  I  authorize  him  at  the  same  time  to  keep  possession  for 
the  United  States. 

"  third.  Also  another  letter  written  by  me  this  day  to  Mr.  Pierre 
Chouteau  by  which  I  give  him  all  the  necessary  power  to  make, 
in  concert  with  you,  and  for  the  republic  of  France,  an  inventory 
and  appraisement  of  the  buildings  and  houses  (except,  however, 
the  fortifications  and  works  of  defence)  which  belong  to  his  C.  M. 
in  the  country  under  your  command,  and  possession  of  which 
must  also  be  given  to  us. 

^^  fourth.  Letters  from  the  commissioners  of  his  C.  M.,  dated 
2lst  December,  also  unsealed,  and  addressed  to: 

"  Don  Pedro  DehaultDelassus,  commandant  at  New  Bourbon. 

"  Don  Francisco  Valle,  commandant  at  Ste.  Genevieve. 

"  Don  Louis  Lorimier,  commandant  at  Cape  Girardeau. 

"  Don  John  Lavallee,  commandant  at  New  Madrid. 

"These  letters  are  nearly  similar  to  the  letter  that  was  sent  to 
you  by  the  same  commissioner. 

'•  I  am  ignorant  whether  your  authority  over  these  commandants 
is  such  that  it  would  have  been  sufficient  if  I  had  transmitted  you 
alone  my  dispositions,  and  that  they  would  have  conformed  to 
these,  but  the  distances  are  so  great,  and  mistakes  would  be  too 
vexatious,  that  I  concluded  to  write  to  them  also. 

^^Jifth.  I  sent  then,  also,  to  Capt.  Stoddard  a  separate  circular 
for  each  of  these  commandants. 

•'  I  pray  you,  sir,  in  all  these  changes  of  governments,  to  accept 
the  different  powers  which  I  have  announced  to  you,  so  far  as 
they  concern  the  French  republic,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  gra- 
ciously receive  the  persons  who  will  present  them  to  you. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  salute  you.  Laussat." 

NO.  3.    CAPT.  STODDARD,  KAS.,  TO  GOV'R  DELA8SUS  AT  ST.  LOUIS 

"Kaskaskia,  18th  Feb.,  1804. 
'*  Sir,  I  have  Just  received  by  express  from  New   Orleans   a 
variety  of  dispatches  relative  to  tlie  late  retrocession  of  Louis- 
iana. 

"  Those  addressed  to  you  and  entrusted  to  my  care  by  the  French 
and  Spanish  commissioners,  I  do  myself  the  honor  to  forward  by 

38 


354  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

a  sergeant  of  our  army,  who  is  bound   on  busineHs  to   Capt. 
Lewis. 

"  In  a  few  days  the  troops  under  my  command  will  ascend  the 
Mississippi  in  public  boats.  I  sliall  proceed  before  them  by  land 
and  concert  with  you  the  necessary  arrangements  before  tiieir 
arrival  at  St.  Louis.  The  inclosed  letter  to  Mr.  Chouteau  I  would 
thank  you  to  deliver  him. 

"  Please  accept  the  assurances  of  my  respectful  consideration. 

"Amos  Stoddard, 
*'  Capt.  U.  S.  Artillervita, 
^^  Agent  and  Commissioner  for  the 
French  Republic." 
to  Chas.  Dehadlt  Delassus, 

"  Lieut  Govr.,  Upper  Louis' a." 

no.  4.    GOV'R   delassus'    KEPLT  to  the  FOREv^OIN'J. 

"St.  Louis,  20th  February,  1804. 

"  Sir,  I  received  yesterday  your  letter  of  the  18th  of  this  month, 
with  those  entrusted  to  your  care,  and  which  yuu  had  the  kind- 
ness to  send  to  me,  and  which  contained  the  orders  of  the  briga- 
diers and  commissioners  of  his  C.  M.  for  the  retrocession  of  this 
colony  to  the  French  Republic,  and  the  disposition  of  the  French 
prefect,  which  authorize  you  to  receive  possession  of  this  part 
of  Louisiana. 

"  I  hasten  to  reply  to  you  by  the  same  sergeant  of  the  U.  S.  army 
by  whom  you  had  forwarded  to  me  your  dispatches,  and  notify 
you  that  Mr.  Louis  Lorimler,  Jr. ,  is  bearer  of  the  necessary  orders 
for  each  one  of  the  commandants  of  the  posts  of  this  province,  and 
which  joined  r'ith  those  delivered  to  tliem  by  the  said  commission- 
ers, will  sufflfiiently  authorize  them  to  receive  the  commissioners 
that  you  may  deem  proper  to  send,  to  receive  from  them  posses- 
sions of  the  said  posts,  and  as  Mr.  Laussat,  prefect,  advises  me 
that  he  has  written  to  them  also  upon  the  same  subject,  and  if 
thos'^^  letters  are  addressed  to  you,  and  if  you  wish  to  avail  your- 
self of  the  opportunity  of  Mr.  Louis  Lorimier  to  send  said  letters 
to  them  you  can  hand  them  over  to  him  with  confidence,  and  he 
is  hereby  directed  to  present  himself  to  you  for  that  object. 


DOCUMENTS  KEOARDINQ  THE  TRANSFER.  355 

••  I  am  also  informed  by  your  letter  that  troops  under  your  orders 
are  about  to  march  for  this  post,  and  that  you  come  ahead  of 
them  so  that  we  may  understand  ourselves  before  their  arrival. 
I  shall  have  the  honor  to  receive  you,  offering  to  you  in  advance 
the  most  gracious  reception  which  will  be  possible  to  bestow  upcn 
you  in  the  name  of  the  King,  my  Sovere'  jn. 

"  I  have  handed  to  Mr.  Pierre  Chouteau  the  letter  that  you  had 
recommended  to  me.  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you,  if  you  make 
known  to  me,  in  advance,  the  day  of  your  arrival,  and  if  you  are 
coming  by  land  or  water. 

"  I  write  you  in  French,  beinginformed  that  the  Spanish  language 
is  not  understood  by  you.  I  have  the  honor,  etc. 

"  Charles  Dehault  DELASsca. 

"Amos  Stoddakd,  Capt.  U.  S.  A., 

"and  Agent  and  Commissioner  for  the  French  Republic." 

CAPT.    LORIMIER   TO   COL.    DELASSU8. 

By  the  present  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  of  the  receipt  of 
your  official  letter  of  the  20th  Inst,  which  was  delivered  to  me  in 
the  night  of  tlie  22nd,  by  your  messenger,  with  the  instructions 
from  Messrs.  the  Brigadiers  of  the  Armies,  and  Commissioners  of 
his  Catholic  M.  to  deliver  up  my  Post  to  the  Commissioners  of  the 
French  Republic. 

I  received  by  the  same  messenger  the  letter  of  Citizen  P.  C. 
Laussat,  Colonial  prefect  and  commissioner  of  the  French  Repub- 
lic, in  which  he  tells  me  that  he  appoints  Mr.  Stoddard  Capt.  of 
the  Artillery  of  the  United  States,  to  receive  from  me  on  behalf 
of  the  French  Republic  possession  of  my  command,  either  by 
himself  in  person,  or  by  any  other  officer  he  may  appointfor  the  pur- 
pose ;  apprising  me  also  that  the  said  Capt.  Stoddard,  or  his  ap- 
pointees, after  receiving  the  country  on  behalf  of  the  French 
Republic,  is  authorized  to  retain  the  same  for  his  own  Nation. 

Conformable   to  these  orders,  I  will  deliver  up  possession  of 
my  command  to  such  American  Officer  as  may  present  himself 
duly  authorized  by  said  Capt.  Stoddard  to  receive  it. 
God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 

Cape  Girardeau,  Fkb't  24  1804.  L.  Lorimier. 


356  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

A  few  days  after  this  Capt.  Stoddard  arrived  at 
St.  Louis,  and  addressed  the  following  to  Govt.  De- 
lassus :  — 

••  DOCUMENT  NO.  5. 

"St.  Louis,  25th February,  1804. 
"Sir,  The  colonial  prefect,  Mr.  Lausat,  agent  and  commia* 
sioner  on  the  part  of  the  French  Republic,  by  an  instrument 
under  his  hand,  directed  to  me,  bearing  date  at  New  Orleans, 
the  12th  day  of  January,  1804,  has  been  pleased,  In  conse- 
quence of  the  authority  with  whicli  he  is  invested,  to  appoint 
me  sole  agent  and  commissioner  on  the  part  of  tlie  said  republic, 
with  plenary  powers,  to  demand  and  receive  in  the  name  of  his 
nation  the  quiet  and  peaceable  possession  of  Upper  Louisiana, 
together  with  all  the  military  posts  at  St.  Louis  and  its  dependen- 
cies, from  his  Catholic  Majesty's  lieutenant-governor  and  com- 
mandants, agreoably  to  ^iie  late  treaty  of  retrocession  ;  and  I  do 
by  these  presents  demand  the  quiet  and  peaceable  deUvery  in  due 
form,  of  the  said  territory,  posts  and  dependencies,  accordingly. 
"Accept  the  assurances  of  respectful  consideration. 

"Amos  Stoddard, 
"  Capt.  of  U.  S.  Artillerists, 
*^ Agent  and  Commissioner  for  the 

French  Republic." 
"  to  Col.  Charles  Deiiault  Delassus, 
"  Lieut.  Governor,  Upper  Louisiana." 

GOVERNOR   DELASSUS*    REFLT. 

St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  Feby.  25,  1804. 
' '  Sir,  As  the  terms  of  the  letter  which  I  have  the  honor  to 
receive  from  you  accord  entirely  with  those  of  the  brigadiers  of 
his  C.  M.  dated  New  Orleans,  Deer.  31,  1803,  and  are  also  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  requisition  of  Mr.  Pierre  Clement  Lausat, 
dated  New  Orleans,  January  12,  1804,  and  which  contained  the 
documents  that  had  been  sent  to  you,  and  which  you  had  the 
kindness  to  forward  to  me  from  Kaskaskia  on  the  1 8th,  and  which 
I  received  on  the  19th  of  the  present  month. 


DOCUMENTS  REGARDING  THE  TRANSFER.  357 

"  In  virtue  of  their  contents,  I  have  inade  tlie  necensary 
arrangements  to  give  you  possession  of  Upper  Louisiana. 

"  I  am  ready  to  give  you  possession  of  this  province  on  the  day 
and  hour  you  may  name,  in  the  most  authentic  form,  as  the  cir- 
cumstances and  nature  of  the  country  will  permit. 

'  '■  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc. 

"  Chaklks  Dkhault  Delassus." 
to  Mr.  Amo3  Stoddard,  St.  Louis. 

In  the  meantime,  while  awaiting  the  day  to  be  de- 
signated for  the  transfer,  Col.  Delassus,  a  veteran 
of  over  twenty  years'  service  in  the  royal  armies  of 
Spain,  there  and  in  France,  deeming  it  but  proper 
that  so  important  an  event  as  the  transfer  of  the 
country  should  be  accompanied  by  some  public  dis- 
play and  eclat  appropiate  to  such  an  occasion,  had 
issued  the  following  order  to  the  troops  composing 
his  garrison  on  the  hill. 

"  Regiment  of  Infantry  of  Louisiana,  Post  of  St.  Louis. 
(order  of  the  23rd  of  February,  1804.) 

"  This  day  henceforth  all  the  men  of  this  department  including 
tiie  guard,  will  keep  themselves  in  full  uniform,  and  with  strict 
regard  to  personal  neatness,  &c.  So  that  all  the  garrison  may  be 
in  readiness  to  take  arms  at  the  first  verbal  order  made  through 
first  Sergeant  Juan  Robayna,  to  evacuate  the  Fort,  with  arms  at  a 
shoulder  and  knapsack  on  the  back. 

"Pursuant  to  this  order,  no  one  will  absent  himself  from  the 
quarters,  either  by  day  or  night,  except  those  necessarily  so,  such 
as  water-carriers,  hostlers,  &c.,  until  the  day  of  the  delivery  of 
these  fortifications  to  the  United  States. 

"As  all  this  detachment  is  composed  of  individuals,  the  larger 
portion  of  whom  have  been  long  in  the  Service  and  know  how  to 
comport  themselves  in  a  praiseworthy  manner,  the  commander 
expects  that  from  the  day  of  the  transfer,  and  afterwards,  until 


358  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

we  take  up  the  line  of  march  to  embody  ourselves  with  our  coun- 
try men,  eacli  man  will  so  comport  himself  as  to  uphold  the  repu- 
tatioa  of  tlio  Spanish  troops  so  Justly  acquired  and  extolled  for 
agert  past ;  and  I  flatter  myself  that  during  the  time  they  may  re- 
main at  this  post  their  conduct  will  be  such  as  to  earn  for  them- 
selves the  res[)ect  and  esteem  of  tlic  American  troops. 

••At  the  moment  when  the  United  States  commandant  will  enter 
this  government  house  to  receive  possession,  a  salute  will  be 
fired  from  the  Fort  by  a  salvo  from  all  the  cannon  that  are 
mounted  and  in  battery.  This  will  be  carried  into  execution  by  a 
signal  from  a  soldier  stationed  for  the  purpose  at  the  corner  of 
the  gallery  of  the  house,  by  waving  his  hat  to  the  sentinel  at  the 
fort,  when  the  firing  will  commence,  taking  good  care  that  there 
will  be  a  regular  interval  of  time  between  each  successive  dis- 
charge. 

Charles  Dehault  Delassds. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  boats  from  Kaskaskia, 
with  Capt.  Stoddard's  troops,  they  landed  at  Caho- 
kia,  on  the  American  side,  where  they  were  cantoned 
for  some  days,  awaiting-  the  final  arrangements  for 
the  transfer. 

FRIDAY   MARCH    9,    1804. 

When  the  eventful  day  at  length  arrived,  to  wit, 
Friday,  March  9,  1804,  the  American  troops  were 
brought  over  to  this  side  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.  Worrall  of  the  United  States  Army,  acting  as 
Adjutant  to  Capt  Stoddard,  who,  accompanied  by 
Capt.  Meriwether  Lewis  of  the  United  States  infant- 
ry (then  in  St.  Louis  on  his  expedition  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean)  and  others,  repaired  to  the  government  house 
at  the  southeast  corner  of    our  present    Main  and 


TKANSFEU  MAKCH  0,  1804.  359 

Walnut  Streets,  here  he  was  formallv  received  and 
welcomed  by  Governor  Delassus,  in  presence  of  his 
officials  and  some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
the  place,  the  largest  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  village  being  assembled  in  the  street  in  front. 

Governor  Delassus  then  addressed  the  people  in 
the  following  brief 

PROCLAMATION. 

«•  March  9,  1804. 
•'  Inhabitants  of  Upper  Louisiana: 

*'  By  the  King's  command,  I  am  about  to  deliver  up  this  post 
and  its  dependencies. 

"The  flag  under  which  you  have  been  protected  for  a  period 
of  nearly  thirty-six  years  is  to  be  withdrawn.  From  this  mo- 
ment you  are  released  from  the  oath  of  fidelity  you  took  to  sup- 
port it. 

"  The  fidelity  and  courage  with  which  you  have  guarded  and 
defended  it,  will  never  be  forgotten ;  and  in  my  character  of 
representative,  I  entertain  the  most  sincere  wishes  for  your 
perfect  prosperity." 

Governoi  D  lassus  then  in  a  brief  address  to  Capt. 
Stoddard,  placed  him  in  possession  of  the  govern- 
mental residence,  to  which  Capt.  Stoddard  made  an 
appropriate  reply,  at  the  conclusion  of  which,  the 
pre-arranged  signal  being  given  by  the  soldier  placed 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  gallery  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  Spanish  troops  at  the  fort  on  the  hill 
commenced  to  fire  the  salute  ordered  by  Gov.  De- 
lassus, and  which  was  continued  at  regular  intervals 
until  completed. 


860  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

Pending  these  proceedings,  the  otHcial  document 
testifying  to  the  transfer,  which  had  been  previously 
prepared  for  the  purpose,  was  duly  executed  in  tripli- 
cate by  the  representatives  of  the  two  governments, 
parties  to  the  act,  in  the  f ollowmg  terms :  — 

"  In  consequence  of  a  letter  sent  from  New  Orleans,  of  the 
3l8t  December  of  last  year  (1803),  by  the  Marquis  de  Casa 
Calvo  and  Don  Ji  ^n  Manuel  de  Salcedo,  brigadier  general  of  the 
royal  armies  and  commissaries  for  his  Catholic  Majesty,  for  the 
transfer  of  the  colony  and  province  of  Louisiana,  to  the  French 
Republic,  addressed  to  Don  Chas.  D.  Delassus,  Col.  in  the 
same  armies.  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  and 
commissioner,  appointed  by  tlie  said  Casa  Calvo  and  Salcedo,  for 
its  transfer,  according  to  the  contents  of  said  letter  requiring  him 
to  give  full  and  entire  possession  of  said  Upper  Louisiana,  includ- 
ing the  military  post  of  St.  Louis,  and  its  dependencies,  to  wit, 
Clement  Lausat,  appointed  by  the  French  Republic,  to  take 
possession  of  the  said  colony  and  province  of  Louisiana,  or  any 
other  person  which  may  have  been  named  to  that  effect,  acord- 
ing  to  the  treaty  of  cession,  and  as  by  letter  also  sent  from  New 
Orleans,  dated  12th  of  January  of  the  current  year,  the  said 
commissary  of  the  French  Republic  appoints,  constitutes  and 
nominates  as  sole  agent  and  commissary  in  behalf  of  his  nation, 
Amos  Stoddard,  Captain  of  Artilleiy  of  the  United  St-ites  of 
America,  for  the  purpose  of  demanding  and  receiviVig  the  said 
Upper  Louisiana,  comprehending  the  said  aforesaid  military 
posts  of  St.  Louis,  and  its  dependencies,  in  virt'ie  of  the  respec- 
tive powers  which  are  explained  above. 

"  Now,  be  it  known  by  these  presents,  that  I,  the  above  Don 
Carlos  D.  Delassus,  in  quality  of  lieutenant  governor  of  the  same, 
at  the  requirements  duly  made  to  me  by  the  said  Amos  Stoddard, 
agent  and  commissary  of  the  French  RepubHc,  have  delivered 
the  full  possession,  sovereignty  and  government  of  the  said  Upper 
Louisiana,  with  all  the  military  posts,  quarters  and  fortifications 
thereto  belonging  or  dependent  thereof,  and  I,  Amos  Stoddard, 


TRANSFER  MARCH  9,  1804,  361 

commissary  as  such,  do  acknowledge  to  have  received  the  said 
possession  on  the  same  terms  already  mentioned,  of  which  I  ac- 
knowledge myself  satisfied  as  possessed  of  on  this  day. 

In  testimony  whereof  the  aforesaid  lieutenant  governor  and  my- 
self have  respectively  signed  these  presents,  sealed  with  the  seal 
of  our  arms,  being  attested  with  the  witnesses  signed  below,  of 
which  proceedings  six  copies  have  been  made  out  to  wit,  three 
in  the  Spanish  and  tlie  other  three  in  the  English  languages. 
Given  in  the  town  of  St.  Louis  of  Illinois, 
9th  March,  1804. 

Carlos  Dehault  Delassus  (Seal). 
Amos  Stoddard  (Seal). 
In  presence  of 

Meriwether  Lewis,  Capt.  1st  U.  S.  Regt.  Infty. 
Antoine  Soulard,  Surveyor  General,  &c. 
Charles  Gratiot.  ^ 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  proceedings  at  the 
government  house,  the  American  troops  were 
marched  up  to  the  Fort  on  the  hill,  where  they  were 
received  by  the  Spanish  troops  under  arms,  and 
after  an  exchange  of  salutes,  received  possession, 
and  were  quartered  therein,  the  stars  and  stripes 
being  displayed  on  the  staff  in  place  of  the  standard 
of  Spain. 

The  Spanish  troops  after  the  evacuation  of  the 
Fort  were  marched  down  the  hill  to  a  large  old 
French  house  of  logs  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
Third  and  Elm  streets,  the  property  of  Manuel  Lisa, 
from  whom  it  had  been  rented  by  Governor  Delassus, 


1  We  bought  the  country  from  France,  Its  real  owner,  to  whom  It  had 
been  retroceded  by  Spain,  aad  would  only  receive  it  from  her,  hence  the 
necessity  of  the  double  transfer. 


362  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

for  quarters  for  the  Spanish  troops,  until  they  could 
depart  for  New  Orleans. 

After  the  transfer  Col.  Delassus  remained  in  St. 
Louis,  until  the  month  of  October,  of  the  same  year, 
closing  up  the  affairs  of  the  Spanish  government, 
and  awaiting  further  orders,  and  finally  left  with  his 
soldiers,  and  the  cannons  and  munitions  of  war  which 
were  not  included  in  the  sale  of  the  country,  and  on 
his  arrival  in  New  Orleans  was  ordered  to  Pensacola, 
Florida,  the  headquarters  of  his  Spanish  Regiment. 

On  Monday  following  the  transfer,  March  12, 
1804,  Col.  Delassus,  at  the  request  of  Capt'.  Stod- 
dard, delivered  to  certain  Indian  tribes,  then  in  and 
about  St.  Louis,  in  the  presence  of  Captains  Stod- 
dard and  Lewis,  Lieuts.  Won-al  and  others,  the  fol- 
lowing speech,  announcing  to  them  the  change  of 
Government. 

"  Delmvares,  Abenakis,  Saquia,  and  others: 

'*  Your  old  fathers,  the  Spaniard  and  the  Frenchman,  who  grasp 
by  the  hand  your  new  father,  the  head  cliief  of  the  United  States, 
by  an  act  of  their  good  will,  and  in  virtue  of  their  last  treaty,  I 
have  delivered  up  to  them  all  these  lands.  They  will  keep  and 
defend  them,  ar.d  protect  all  the  white  and  red  skins  who  live 
thereon.  You  will  live  as  happily  as  if  the  Spaniard  was  still 
here. 

"I  have  informed  your  new  father,  who  here  takes  my  place, 
that  since  I  have  been  here  the  Delawares,  Siiawnees  and  Sakis 
have  always  conducted  themselves  well,  that  I  have  always 
received  them  kindly  ;  that  the  chiefs  have  always  restrained  their 
young  men  as  much  as  it  was  possible.  I  have  recommended  thee 
Takinonsa,  as  chief  of   the  natives,  that  thou  hast  always  labored 


COL.  DELA88U8  TO  HIS  SUBORDINATES.       363 

much  and  well  to  maintain  a  sincere  friendship  with  the  whites 
and  that  in  consequence  of  thy  good  services,  I  recently  presented 
thee  a  medal  with  the  portrait  of  thy  great  father  the  Spaniard, 
and  letters  patent  reciting  thy  good  and  loyal  services.  For  several 
days  past  we  have  fired  off  cannon  shots  to  announce  to  all  the 
nations  that  your  father  the  Spaniard  is  going,  bis  heart  happy 
to  know  that  you  will  be  protected  and  sustained  by  your  new 
father,  and  that  thb  emoke  of  the  powder  may  ascend  to  the  master 
of  life,  praying  him  to  shower  on  you  all  a  happy  destiny  and 
prosperity  in  always  living  in  good  union  with  the  whites." 

Col.  Delassus  also  on  the  same  day,  addressed  the 
following  official  circular  to  the  several  commandants 
in  his  jurisdiction,  apprising  them  of  the  change : — 

To  M.  Baptiste  Valle,  Ste.  Genevieve. 
"     Deluziere,  New  Bourbon. 
'     Louis  Lorimier,  Cape  Girardeau. 
'     Jean  Lavallee,  New  Madrid. 
"     Pierre  De  Treget,  Carondelet. 
"     Jameb  Mackay,  St.  Andrew. 
'     Francis  Dunegant,  St.  Ferdinand. 
"     Charles  Tayon,  St.  Charles. 
"     Francis  Saucier,  Portage  des  Sioux. 
"     Pierre  Lajoie,  Sindic  at  Maramek. 
•'     Edmond  Hodges,  post  at  Missouri. 
"  On  the   ninth  day  of  tlie  present  month,  I   relinquished  the 
command  of  this  place  and  of   all  upper  Louisiana  to  Mr.  Amos 
Stoddard,  captain   of  artillery   of  the  United  States   and  com- 
missioner for  the  French  Republic,  who  since  has  retained  it  in  the 
name  of  the  said  states. 

I  apprise  you  of  this  for  your  guidance,  according  to  orders  I 
issued  to  you  of  date  February  20th,  last  past,  notifying  you 
to  communicate  the  same  to  the  Sindics  of  your  dependency. 

God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 
'  Charles  Dehault  Delassus. 

St.  Louis  of  Illinois. 


364  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

DELASSUS'    SUBORDINATEvS. 

President  Jefferson  in  selecting  Capt.  Amos  Stod- 
dard, of  the  United  States  Army,  as  commissioner  to 
receive  possession  of  Upper  Lonisiana,  and  to  remain 
in  charge  of  the  same  as  civil  and  military  command- 
ant until  Congress  should  assemble  in  the  fall  and 
enact  such  laws  for  the  government  of  our  new  ac- 
quisition as  to  them  might  seem  suitable  and  proper, 
instructed  him  particularly  that  "inasmuch  as  the 
largest  portion  of  the  old  inhabitants  were  strenu- 
ously opposed  to  the  change  of  government,  it  would 
go  far  to  conciliate  them,  and  they  would  much 
sooner  become  reconciled  to  the  new  order  of  things, 
by  making  little,  if  any  change  in  the  modus  oper- 
andi of  the  government,  at  least  for  a  time."  And 
so  careful  was  Capt.  Stoddard  to  carry  out,  to  the 
letter,  the  instructions  of  the  President,  that  his  seven 
months'  administration  of  affairs  in  our  new  purchase 
was  simply  a  prolongation  of  the  Spanish  regime,  he 
occupying  the  same  building  for  offices  and  quarters, 
using  the  same  archives  and  records,  and  continu- 
ing in  the  public  employment  the  same  subordinates 
as  his  immediate  predecessor,  the  only  visible  change 
being  the  substitution  of  the  English  language  in  lieu 
of  the  Spanish. 

At  his  request  Col.  Delassus  furnished  him  a  list 


DELASSUS'  SUBORDINATES.  365 

of  those  then  in  his  employ,  with  remarks  as  ^o  their 


11 


1.  Anthony  Soulard,  St.  Louis,  Is  a  former  officer  of  the 
French  Navy,  emigrated  since  the  revolution.  Since  uis  arrival 
in  the  country,  he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Government  and 
has  discharged  his  duties  with  zeal  and  accuracy  ;  he  would  have 
received  a  salary  as  assistant  to  the  Lieut.  Governor,  who  de- 
signed to  raise  his  rank,  had  it  not  been  for  the  change  of  gov- 
ernment. So  that  for  over  two  years  he  has  done  nothing  of  this 
kind  for  the  Spanish  Service. 

"  He  was  recommended  to  the  King  to  be  appointed  a  captain 
with  the  pay  of  Lieutenant,  and  lately  withdrew  his  application 
which  I  have  favored  anew.  In  his  character  of  Surveyor  of  this 
Upper  Louisiana,  he  can  furnish  you  the  most  reliable  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  all  the  titles  of  grants,  including  therein  New 
Madrid,  the  last  post  in  Upper  Louisiana  where  grants  of  lands 
have  been  made,  he  is  an  officer  of  much  merit. 

"2.  Don  Benito  Basquez,  a  former  officer,  father  of  a  numer- 
ous family,  poor,  who  does  not  succeed  in  business,  and  whose 
age  makes  him  at  present  of  but  little  force  for  the  Service. 

"3.  James  De  St.  Vrain,  officer  of  the  French  navy,  emi- 
grated to  the  country  with  his  family  since  1795.  He  commands 
his  majesty's  galliot  the  Phebc  —  he  serves  with  zeal  and  exactness, 
he  has  made  several  voyages  or  campaigns  with  his  galliot,  in  which 
he  always  carried  out  his  instructions  with  sagacity  and  prudence. 
In  his  last  campaign  to  Prairie  du  Chien  he  obtained  a  little  para- 
clete (comfort  or  consolation)  of  forty  dollars  pay,  forty-five  of 
bounty,  and  IJ  reals  a  day  rations,  together  ninety  dollars  the 
month. 

"  He  is  my  brother  and  I  confine  myself  to  expressing  his  desire 
to  be  useful  to  the  new  government  under  which  he  is  to  live. 

"  4.  Mr,  Antoine  Dubreuil,  a  young  officer,  very  zealous  in  all 
he  is  commanded  to  execute,  he  was  employed  in  the  expeditions 
of  the  Galliots  under  De  St.  Vrain,  who  was  satisfied  with  his 
conduct. 

"  5.  Mr.  Joseph  Jtobidou,  an  infirm  old  man,  almost  blind. 


366  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  6.  Mr.  Pierre  Chouteau,  a  very  zealous  officer,  he  was  com- 
mandant of  Fort  Carondelet,  at  t'le  Ossige  N.ition,  whose  trade  it 
pleased  his  Majesty's  Governor  Salcedo  to  grant  exclusively  to 
Messrs.  Manuel  Lisa,  Sanguinet,  Greg'e  Sarpy,  and  Benoit  —  So 
long  as  this  officer  had  the  trade  of  this  nation,  he  so  managed 
them,  and  his  authority  was  such  as  to  induce  them  whenever 
they  killed  any  one,  to  bring  in  the  ring-leaders  He  is  respected 
and  feared,  and  I  believe  loved  by  this  nation.  In  the  year  180- 
I  saw  him  here  with  a  party  of  200  Indians,  make  himself  res- 
pected and  obeyed,  and  raiinnge  them  with  firmness  and  mildness. 
I  think  he  is  the  most  suital)le  officer  of  this  post,  to  be  employed 
in  that  nation  and  others  of  the  Missouri. 

"  7.  Mr.  Vincent  Bonis — I  am  unacquainted  with  his  services, 
he  is  an  honest  man  in  business  affairs,  but  entirely  given  to 
drink  since  I  have  been  here. 

"  8.  Mr.  Pascal  Cerre,  2nd  Lieut.,  a  very  zealous  officer, 
speaks  and  writes  English. 

"9.  Mr.  Benito  Bdsquez,  Jr.,  I  believe  him  very  zealous,  al- 
though I  have  not  had  occasion  to  employ  him. 

"  10.  Mr.  Francis  Duueqant,  commandant  at  St.  Ferdinand,  a 
perfectly  honest  man,  brave  officer  who  has  filled  positions,  and 
who  was  made  commandant  at  the  commencement  of  the  settle- 
ment, but  his  capacity  is  such  that  he  is  now  often  embarrassed 
in  view  of  the  growth  of  his  district,  and  that  he  can  neither  read 
or  write. 

"11.  Mr.  Francis  Delorier,  of  the  same  genus  as  Dunegant 
preceeding. 

"  12.  Mr.  Charles  Tayon,  commandant  at  St.  Charles,  a  brave 
officer  and  zealous  in  obeying  orders  lie  receives  when  he  can  com- 
prehend them.  He  received  a  brevet  from  the  King  of  2nd  Lieut, 
and  pay  of  eleven  or  twelve  dollars  a  month,  for  having  distin- 
guished himself  in  an  action,  I  think  with  the  English  —  for  some 
time  past  he  gives  himself  to  drink ;  he  recently  committed  an 
injustice  towards  the  inhabitants  of  his  post,  which  is  already  too 
important  for  his  capacity  to  enable  him  to  regulate  as  it  should 
be  —  he  neither  reads  nor  writes. 

"  13.  Mr.  Antoine  Qauthier,  a  good  man,  without  knowledge, 
but  zealous  in  the  service. 


DELASyUS'  SUBORDINATES.  367 

"  14.  Mr.  Pierre  Tro(j4  about  the  same  stamp  as  tlie  preceding 
one. 

"  15.  Mr.  James  J/acAray,  an  officer  of  knowledge,  zealous  and 
punctual,  he  formed  the  settlement  of  St.  Andrew  (Bonhomme 
bottom  along  the  Missouri  above  St.  Charles),  he  caused  roads 
and  bridges  to  be  constructed  by  the  inhabitants  to  communicate 
with  the  chief  place  —  he  is  not  litigious,  and  has  adjusted  dis- 
sensions between  the  people  as  much  as  lay  in  his  power,  and  he 
keeps  them  in  good  order  with  judgment.  I  think  him  a  recom- 
mendable  officer  with  many  good  (jualities  —  he  reads  and  writes 
french. 

"  16.  M.  Edmoiid  Ho'lges,  Sindic  at  Columbia  bottom,  since 
I  appointed  him,  I  have  always  found  him  very  correct,  and  de- 
voted to  the  public  service. 

"  17.  Mr.  Amos  Richerson,  I  tliink  him  a  proper  man  for  public 
business,  and  since  his  appointment  he  has  always  borne  himself 
earnestly  in  the  matters  which  required  his  attention. 

"  18.  Mr.  Boone,  a  respectable  old  man,  just  and  impartial, 
he  has  already,  since  1  api)ointed  him,  offered  his  resignation 
owing  to  his  infirmities  —  believing  I  know  his  probity,  I  have 
induced  him  to  remain,  in  view  of  my  confidence  in  him  for  the 
public  good. 

"  19.  Mr.  Mat.  McKonel,  I  have  not  had  the  opportunity  of 
knowing  personally,  but  since  I  have  appointed  him,  the  reports 
I  hear  of  his  conduct,  are  not  advantageous  for  the  public. 

"  20.  Mr.  Francis  Saucier,  at  Portage  des  Sioux,  a  former 
French  Officer  in  the  colony,  father  of  a  numercjus  family,  an 
honest  man,  zealous  and  friend  of  good  order. 

'*  21.  Mr.  Pierre  De  Treget,  Sindic  of  Carondelet,  a  good  man 
with  no  cai)acity,  he  ncitlier  reads  nor  writes,  he  was  appointed 
Capt.  Commandant  for  want  of  others,  tlie  |)ost  is  sc  near  here, 
that  the  least  affair  of  that  post  is  done  here,  nevertheless  it 
should  have  its  Archives,  which  are  not  important. 

'•  22.  Pierre  Lapie  e.t  Maramek,  a  bad  fellow,  but  the  best  I 
could  find  there,  where  a  Sindic  was  absolutely  necessary  when  I 
appointed  him,  he  speaks  English  and  is  a  determiiu'd  man. 

"23.  M.  Francois  VaU4,  St.  Genevieve  —  the  fidelity  of  the 
family  of  these  officers  under  all  the  administrations  where  they 


368  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

found  themselves,  the  much  good  service  of  tb'a  one  since  his 
employment,  the  universal  esteem  of  all  the  inhabitants  tliat  he 
so  justly  merited,  cannot  but  cause  to  be  rej^retted  so  useful  a 
man  at  the  moment  when  he  is  about  to  depart  this  life ;  and 
recommend  his  family,  wiiich  has  always  been  zealous  in  the  pub- 
lic service,  and  liave  given  proofs  of  it  under  all  circumstances. 

"24.  M.  John  B.  Vall4,  brother  of  Don  Francis,  a  very  zeal- 
ous officer,  he  has  been  employed  under  several  circumstances,  he 
always  conducted  himself  well,  and  commands  at  present  tem- 
porarily the  post  of  St.  Genevieve,  since  the  illness  of  his  brother. 

"  25.  M.  Joseph  Pratte,  a  zealous  officer  when  employed, 
speaks  English. 

"26.  M.  Francis  Vall^,  Jr.,  son  of  the  dying  commandant. 
He  resembles  his  father  in  disposition ;  in  an  expedition  I  com- 
manded last  year,  composed  of  a  detachment  of  militia  I  con- 
ducted to  New  Madrid,  I  noticed  his  zeal,  alacrity  and 
correctness  in  the  service. 

"27.  M.  Jiio.  B.  Janis,  St.  Genevieve,  a  zealous  officer. 

"  28.  M.  Camille  Delaasus,  this  officer  is  at  present  on  duty  at 
New  Bourbon,  where  he  acts  as  interpreter,  without  pay,  for  the 
English  language  —  he  has  been  employed  several  times  in  the 
service,  he  commanded  the  post  at  New  Bourbon,  in  the  absence 
of  his  father.  He  discharged  the  duty  of  Adjutant  of  the  de- 
tachment I  conducted  last  year  to  New  Madrid. 

"  He  is  my  brother,  the  desire  I  entertain  to  see  him  obtain  pro- 
motion under  the  new  government  where  he  is  to  remain,  forbids 
my  saying  anytiiing  further  of  him,  but  I  think  I  may  add  with- 
out compromising,  that  he  will  always  be  highly  flattered  at  being 
employed. 

"  29.  Pierre  Delassus  DeluzUre,  New  Bourbon,  entirely  devoted 
to  public  affairs,  gained  him  the  approbation  of  the  Governor 
General  of  Louisiana,  he  is  my  father,  I  can  only  recommend 
him  as  a  zealous  servant. 

"30.  M.  Louis  Lorimier,  Cape  Girardeau  —  this  officer  can 
neither  read  nor  write,  but  he  has  natural  genius ;  since  he  has 
had  the  command  at  the  Cape,  he  has  always  had  the  judgment 
to  have  some  one  near  him  able  to  assist  him,  in  regard  to  his 
correspondence,  he  signs  nothing  without  having  it  read  to  him 


DELA88U8'  SUBORDINATES.  369 

two  or  three  times  until  he  comprehends  it,  or  it  must  be  read 
again.  He  has  maintiiined  order  in  his  post,  with  incredible  firm- 
nees  against  some  inhabitants  who  designed  to  mutiny  against 
him  with  out  cause.  He  is  extremely  zealous  when  employed. 
Although  supposed  to  be  interested,  I  have  known  him  to  neglect 
'  all  his  business  to  execute  a  commission  which  would  produce 
him,  instead  of  profit  l)ut  expense.  He  is  much  experienced  in 
regard  to  Indians,  particularly  the  Sliawnees  and  Loups,  it  was 
through  his  influence  with  the  latter  tribe,  tlmt  the  Delaware 
Indian  who  had  itilled  n  citizen  of  tlie  United  States  on  the  road 
to  post  Vincennes,  was  taken  by  his  nation  to  Kaskaskia. 

"  1  had  an  incontestable  proof  of  his  talent  with  the  Indians 
last  year  at  New  Madrid,  where  without  ins  mediation,  I  would 
have  been  obliged  to  employ  force  to  execute  the  Mascou  Indian, 
it  was  he  who  eventually  persuaded  them  to  attend  the  council. 
The  subjoined  copy  of  the  letter  of  the  Governor  General  is  a 
testimonifil  of  his  services.  He  is  brave  and  extremely  well  posted 
in  the  Indian  method  of  war —  feared  and  respected  by  the  savages  ; 
I  think  I  should  recommend  him  especially  for  these  matters, 
which  he  knows  tlioroughly. 

"31.  M.  John  Lavalee,  a  skilful  and  zealous  officer,  recom- 
mended for  a  long  time  for  Captain,  the  change  of  government 
has  restrained  these  expeditions.  I  appointed  him  commandant 
ad  interim  cf  New  Madrid,  he  was  recognized  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  I  .hink  would  have  been  retained  but  for  the  changes ; 
every  time  I  employed  him,  he  gave  me  great  satisfaction  in  the 
manner  he  acquitted  himself  of  his  commissions  of  service ;  he 
speaks  and  Avrites  Spanish,  French,  and  English,  and  is  a  firm, 
brave  and  prudent  man.  I  i-ecommend  him  as  an  ofllcer  to  be 
employed. 

"32.  M.  Rich'dJ.  PTofers,  zealous  officer  of  extensive  knowl- 
edge, but  cif  a  somewhat  extravagant  disposition  and  very  quar- 
relsome. 

"33.  M.  Francois  Riche  Dupin,  a  zealous  officer. 

"  34.  M.  Robert  McKoy,  a  brave  officer,  extremely  zealous,  he 
was  a  long  time  in  command  of  a  Galley  of  his  Majesty,  stationed 
at  New  Madrid  and  always  served  well  and  actively  employed. 

He  was  severely  wounded  lately  by  the  Mascou  brigand,  while 

24 


370  ANNALS  OF  8T.  LOUIB. 

bringing  him   up  from   Orleans  to  Natchez,  and   crippled   for 
life. 

"85.  M.  Pet<'r  Antoine  La/orgre,  New  Madrid,  a  very  zealous 
officer,  performing  the  duties  of  Adjutant  of  the  militia,  and  Jus- 
tice of  tlie  peace  and  notary  public.  He  performs  these  various 
duties  with  correctness  and  precision  —  he  records  all  that  is 
done,  either  of  customary  or  unusual  services,  etc.  I  can  do  no 
less  than  recommend  him  as  a  man  very  active,  correct,  and  uso- 
ful  in  public  service  in  every  respect,  but  he  does  not  write 
English. 

"  36.  M.  Francis  Leaieur,  a  zealous  officer,  settled  at  the  little 
Prairie,  where,  although  not  appointed  Sindic,  yet  it  is  to  him  in 
that  capacity  that  the  people  of  this  new  settlement  look  to  for 
information  and  advice  —  he  does  not  read  nor  write. 

"  37.  There  is  also  at  New  Madrid,  M.  Charpentier,  interpreter 
of  the  English  language,  appointed  by  the  government,  who 
receives  at  present  twenty  dollars  a  month. 

'•  38.  Samuel  Dorsey,  Surgeon  of  the  Fort,  receives  thirty  dol- 
lars a  month. 

NOTE. 

"There  are  in  the  districts  of  St.  Genevieve,  New  Bourbon, 
Cape  Girardeau  and  New  Madrid,  Sindics  of  whom  each  com- 
mander of  these  posts  may  obtain  information. 

"  All  the  Sindics  I  mention  were  appointed  by  me  the  year  we 
were  threatened  with  an  attack  by  the  Indians  from  the  English 
side,  for  the  purpose  of  placing  themselves  at  the  head  of  the 
inhabitants  of  their  district  to  be  in  readiness  to  lead  them  to  the 
place  where  they  would  have  been  ordered.  Since  then  I  have 
retained  them  with  the  approval  of  the  Government  to  settle 
small  misunderstandings  betweea  the  inhabitants  with  a  view  to 
do  Justice. 

"All  the  commandants  named  and  appointed  by  the  govern- 
ment who  are  not  on  regular  pay  as  military,  receive  a  bounty  of 
100  dollars  per  annum,  and  their  Post  expenses. 

SOME   OTHER    EMPLOYEES   PAID   BT   THE   GOVERNMENT. 

"  39.  Hypolite  Bolon,  speaks  several  languages  of  the  Missis- 
sippi tribes.     I  have  always  been  satisfied  with  him,  and  know  no 


CAPT.  STODDARD  TO  SECRETARY  OF  WAR.  371 

Other  here  to  interpret  for  these  nations  —  in  that  capacity  be 
receives  200  dollars  a  year  and  hi^  firewood. 

"40.  Nic.  Leconte,  St.  Louis,  gunsmith  for  the  Indians, 
receives  140  dollars  a  year  —  this  otflce  is  indispensable  for  the 
Indians,  accustomed  to  have  their  fire-arms  repaired  when  they 
come  to  the  place  —  they  make  the  trip  expressly  to  onng 
them. 

'•41.  Mr.    ,     the    curate    of    this    parish,    receives   » 

salary  of 

"42.  Mr.  ,  the  curate  of  St.  Charles  and  St.  Fer- 
dinand receives 

"43.  Doctor  Saugrain,  Surgeon  of  the  hospital,  receives  thirty 
dollars  per  month. 

"The  presents  made  to  the  Indians  cost  the  Spanish  government 
for  Upper  Louisiana,  including  provisions,  liquors,  etc.,  for  St. 
Louis,  St.  Genevieve  and  New  Madrid,  about  from  twelve  to 
thirteen  thousand  dollars,  more  or  less,  per  annum. 

"St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  March  6,  1804. 

"Charles  Dbhault  Delassus. 
"ToCapt.  Amos  Stoddard." 


As  connected  with  our  purchase  of  Louisiana  from 
France,  in  view  of  the  current  rumor  on  the  American 
side  that  a  former  Spanish  official  had  been  en- 
gaged in  fraudulent  concessions  to  certain  parties  of 
large  grants  of  lands,  Ca])t.  Stoddard,  then  posted  at 
Kaskaskia,  awaiting  the  period  for  the  transfer  of 
Upper  Louisiana  to  the  United  States,  addressed  the 
following  to  the  Secretary  of  War  from  that  place :  — 

CAPT.    AMOS      STODDAUD    TO    THE    SECRETARY    OF     WAR    ABOUT    THE 
SPURIOUS   GRANTS   OF   LAND   IN   UPPER    LOUISIANA. 

Kaskaskia,  Jan'y  10,  1804. 
Sir:    The  Attornej'-General  of  the  Indian  Territory,  who,  a 


372  ANNALS  OP  8T.  LOUIS. 

few  dnys  since,  visited  the  Louisiana  side,  has  given  mo  some  in- 
formation wliicii  I  tiiinit  ray  duty  to  communicate : 

Attempts  arc  now  mailing  to  defraud  the  United  States.  As 
nearly  as  can  be  estimated,  two  liundred  tliousand  acres  of  land, 
including  all  the  best  mines,  have  been  surveyed  by  various  indi- 
viduals in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  past.  All  the  official  papers 
relative  to  tliese  lands,  bear  tlie  signature  of  M.  —  the  predecessor 
of  the  present  lieutenant-governor.  He  now  commands  a  Span- 
ish garrison  in  the  neigliborhood  of  New  Orleans.  To  understand 
the  nature  of  this  fraudulent  transaction,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
state  the  mode  of  arranging  titles.  Tlic  settler  applies  to  the 
Commandant  by  way  of  petition,  ond  prays  a  grant  of  certain 
lands  descnoed  by  him.  At  the  l)Ottom,  or  on  the  back  of  the 
same  petition,  the  commandant  accedes  to  the  i)rayer,  and  directs 
the  surveyor  to  run  out  the  lands  prayed  for.  This  petition  and 
order,  togetlier  with  the  proceedings  of  the  surveyor,  entitles  actual 
settlers  to  grants  on  application  to  the  proper  officer  at  New 
Orleans.  But  the  fact  seems  to  be,  that  the  great  body  of  the 
people  have  no  other  title  to  their  lands  than  what  results  from 
their  original  petitions,  orders  and  surveys.  Very  few  of  them 
have  taken  the  trouble  to  procure  grants.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, they  seem  to  have  an  equitable  claim  to  their  lands,  and 
really  expect  a  confirmation  of  them  by  the  United  States. 

This  state  of  things  has  suggested  the  possibility  of  a  success- 
ful fraud ;  and  the  progress  of  it  will  probably  turn  to  be  this : 

Mr. (who,  when  commandant,  was  certainly  authorized  to 

cause  surveys  of  land  to  be  made  to  settlers)  has  been  prevailed 
on  to  put  his  signature  to  blank  papers ;  to  suffer  some  persons 
in  this  quarter  to  insert  the  necessary  petition  and  order  of  survey 
over  it,  and  to  fix  the  necessary  dates.  The  persons  concerned  in 
this  transaction  probably  expect  that,  as  the  dates  of  the  spurious 
papers  are  confounded  with  those  of  a  just  nature,  our  Government 
cannot,  or  will  not,  attempt  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other. 

It  is  now  about  five  years  since  M was  commandant  of 

Upper  Louisiana,  to  which  time  the  papers  appear  to  be  antedated. 
Extensive  surveys  have  been  made,  and  are  now  making,  under  his 
orders,  and  many  of  them  to  persons  who  have  not  resided  two 
years  in  the  country. 


THE  MA8C0U  INDIANS.  373 

It  is  aUo  understood  tlmt  cacli  purchaser  gives  forty  dollars  for 
every  one  hundred  or  four  hundred  acres,  and  that  this  sum  is 
divided  between  three  persons,  the  projectors  of  this  spcculatioo. 
I  am,  with  sentiments  of  liigh  respect. 

Your  Obedient  Servant, 

Ahos  Ktoddaud, 
The  Secrktaky  or  War.  Capt.  Corps  of  Artillery, 

President  Jefferson  cominuniciited  to  Congress  the 
above  which  might  require  legislative  action,  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1804. 


COL.  DELASSUS  TO  CAPT.  STODDARD  CONCERNINO  THE    MA9COU  INDIANS, 

ETC. 

"  St.  Louis  of  the  Illinois,  ) 

"March  30,  1804.  f 

"Jlfr.  Amo8  Stoddard,  Capt.  of  Artillery  and  first  Civil  Commandant 

of  Upper  Louisiana. 

"  Sir  :  I  think  it  essential  for  the  nieasu-es  you  may  probably  take 
for  the  safety  and  tranquility  of  these  inhabitants,  to  inform  you 
that  there  exists  in  these  parts  since  nearly  ten  j'ears,  a  party  of 
vagabond  robbers  of  the  Mashcoux  nation,  or  self-styled  Tala- 
poosa  Creeks,  expelled  from  their  tribe,  and  not  daring  to  return 
on  account  of  the  crimes  they  there  committed,  and  who  since 
that  time  have  been  almut  on  i)otli  the  east  and  west  banks  of  the 
river,  scattered  along  this  side  from  New  Madrid  to  the  upper 
waters  of  the  Maramec,  and  constantly  committing  barbarities, 
in  stealing,  killing,  violating,  or  burning  houses. 

In  the  year  1802,  they  carried  their  audacity  to  the  extent  of 
killing  an  inhabitant  of  New  Madrid  named  David  Trotter,  and 
afterwards  burnt  his  house.  Some  time  thereafter  this  same  party, 
to  the  number  of  five,  were  captured  through  the  watchfulness 
anu  vigilance  of  Mr.  Louis  Lorimier,  commandiint  of  Cape  Girar- 
deau, wlio  went  with  a  detachment  of  the  Militia  of  his  Post  and 
took  them  in  custody,  since  which  time  I  had  them  taken  to  New 
Madrid,  where  they  were  detained  as  prisoners,  guarded  by  the 


374  AJSNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Militia  of  tliat  Post,  until  the  decisioD  of  the  Governor-General, 
who  subsequently  sent  me  his  orders  to  execute,  by  shooting  the 
principal  culprit  named  Tewanaye,  with  all  the  necessary  care  and 
preparation,  as  an  example,  usual  in  similar  cases  —  and  which  or- 
ders I  executed  in  January  of  the  past  year  1803,  in  presence 
of  the  four  other  culprits  and  one  of  t'  >eir  chiefs  named  Aypaletchy , 
and  another  of  consideration  called  K.  iloua ;  this  sentence,  af- 
ter some  representations  of  these  twc  "efs,  without  bitterness, 
was  finally  put  in  execution  with  their  .  consent,  and  after  they 
had  again  admitted  in  full  council  that  ras  but  an  act  of  well 
merited  Justice,  and  that  their  principal  cuiefs  would  be  satisfied 
with  it,  as  it  is  stated  in  the  copy  of  the  sentence  of  execution, 
which  I  transmit  you  herewith,  and  which  is  verified  by  a  party  of 
their  nation  who  came  to  accompany  the  chiefs  of  said  nation,  to 
collect  the  balance  of  this  gang  of  vagabonds,  as  you  will  see  by 
the  ofi3cial  statement  appended  hereto,  of  the  council  held  by  the 
commandant  of  New  Madrid  Mr.  John  Lavallee,  in  which  the  chief 
very  clearly  says,  to  '  run  after  and  chastise  them  and  cut  off  their 
ears,  and  if  they  cannot  be  caught  to  fire  on  them  as  deer.' 

But  the  above  cited  execution  and  arrangement  with  their  nation 
has  not  put  an  end  to  their  barbarities ;  for  last  autumn  I  received 
notice  that  one  Gabriel  Bolon  and  his  two  nephews  were  beaten 
and  killed  by  a  party  of  Osages  on  the  grand  glaize  river  —  it  was 
a  Delaware  woman  who  was  with  them  and  who  escaped,  that 
came  and  reported  this  to  me,  but  a  few  days  afterwards. 

"  I  learnt  that  a  party  of  seven  or  eight  Mashcoux's  came  into 
the  Village  of  Ste.  Genevieve  singing  the  war  song  and  dance,  and 
danced  the  scalp  dance,  and  when  questioned  as  to  whose  scalp  they 
had,  they  denied  it  and  said  that  they  had  met  with  the  Osages,  that 
they  had  fired  on  them,  but  they  had  no  man  wounded  who  was 
of  the  Band;  shortly  afterwards,  their  falsehood  was  discovered, 
in  that  they  were  in  possession  of  the  spoils  of  the  unfortunate  per- 
sons they  had  murdered,  that  is,  the  blanket-coat  of  one  of  the 
nephews  of  Hypolite  Bolon,  his  rifle  and  his  horse.  They  also 
had  the  insolence  some  days  afterwards  to  come  to  the  post  of 
St.  Louis  with  the  said  rifle.  I  was  about  to  have  them  arrested 
to  ascertain  the  facts,  but  in  the  interval  some  imprudent  persons 
who  went  to  see  them,  wanted  to  take  this  rifle  from  them,  they 


THE  MASCOU  INDIANS.  375 

resisted  and  made  their  escape.  Since  then  HypoUte  Bolon  came 
and  brought  me  these  two  gun-barrels,  which  I  send  you,  with 
this  was  a  tomahawk ;  and  whicli  he  told  me  were  found  near  the 
corpses  of  his  brother  and  his  two  children,  and  which  he  says 
were  arms  of  these  Mascoux's,  and  the  tomahawk  left  as  a  sig- 
nal of  war,  and  added  that  the  man  who  found  them  would  come 
here  this  spring.  I  awaited  this  period  to  proceed  and  demand 
reparation  from  the  chiefs  of  that  nation,  in  the  event  of  not  be- 
ing enabled  to  take  the  guilty  parties,  and  on  the  second  of  Jan- 
uary I  was  informed  that  these  same  barbarians  were  in  the  vil- 
lage, that  they  went  drunk  from  house  to  house.  I  found  it  im- 
possible to  discover  them  by  a  heavy  rain,  and  one  of  the  darkest 
of  nights,  1  could  only  warn  the  various  houses,  for  the  inmates 
to  remain  quiet,  and  to  keep  their  doors  fastened,  and  in  case  of 
insult  or  attack  from  them  to  defend  themselves  if  they  had  not 
the  time  to  apprise  me.  The  next  day  January  3,  I  was  informed 
early  that  there  was  a  dead  Indian  in  the  street  opposite  the  house 
of  one  Thibault,  and  that  he  was  supposed  to  be  a  Mashcoux,  be- 
cause two  others  of  that  nation  had  passed  the  body  which  they 
had  looked  at,  one  weeping,  another  singing  the  war  song,  and 
that  they  had  started  off  immediately. 

"  After  a  proper  examination  of  the  body,  it  was  taken  up  and 
interred,  as  is  verified  and  stated  in  a  document  now  on  file  in  the 
archives,  which  I  have  delivered  over  to  you.  I  immediately 
notified  the  commandants  and  sindics  of  the  lower  posts,  includ- 
ing New  Madrid,  to  be  on  the  alert,  and  to  bear  with  nothing  from 
those  Brigands,  and  to  be  ready  to  protect  themselves  if  insulted 
by  them. 

"Five Indians  of  that  nation  came  to  talk  with  me,  and  brought 
me  the  subjoined  letter.  I  held  a  talk  with  them  ;  they  said  they 
had  no  head  man,  and  they  would  go  and  seek  him  —  they  left, 
and  I  did  not  see  them  again. 

"  The  19th  day  of  the  month  of  February,  the  Sindic  of  Mara- 
meck  came  to  bring  me  his  report,  that  there  were  five  of  that  band 
that  were  killed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  two  banks  of  the  river 
who  gave  chase  to  them  to  recover  a  canoe  or  pirogue  that  they 
had  stolen  from  the  salt  works  on  the  Maramek,  and  which  was 
afterwards  confirmed  by  a  paragraph  subjoined,  from  a  letter  of 


376  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  deceased  Don  Franci  ico  Vall^,  commandant  of  Ste.  Genevieve. 
I  also  made  known  this  affair  to  all  the  commandants  and  Sindics 
including  New  Madrid,  in  reiterating  to  them  to  be  on  the  look- 
out. 

"  All  this  I  communicate  for  your  information,  so  that  it  may 
be  of  use  to  you  in  the  steps  you  may  judge  proper  to  take. 
' '  I  have  the  honor  to  be 

"  With  the  highest  consideration, 

"  Sir,  Yours,  &c., 
"Charles  Dehault  Delassus." 


"St.  Louis  of  Illinois,  March  30,  1804. 
"To    M.   Amos  Stoddard,    Capt.   of   Artillery  of  the   U.    S., 

First  Civil  Commandant  of  Upper  Louisiana: 

"Sir:  On  the  17th  of  last  month  I  received  from  his  C.  M.'s 
captain  commandant,  par  interim  of  the  Post  of  Ste.  Genevieve, 
M.  Jno.  Bap.  Valle,  an  official  letter  with  a  petition  from  Mr. 
Madden,  appointed  assistant  surveyor  for  the  said  Post  and  its 
dependencies,  by  the  surveyor  of  this  Upper  Louisiana,  Mr. 
Antoine  Soulard.  The  said  letter  and  petition  were  a  complaint 
on  the  part  of  the  said  Madden  against  certain  inhabitants  of 
Mine  a  Breton,  who  presented  themselves  armed  against  him,  and 
opposed  iu  the  name  of  the  United  States,  his  surveying  the  land 
of  Mr.  Pascal  Detchemendy,  which  he  had  been  authorized  to  do 
by  one  of  my  orders,  and  making  use  of  offensive  and  injurious 
expressions,  carrying  their  audacity  even  so  far  as  to  threaten  the 
said  Madden,  and  the  said  Pascal,  who  was  there  to  be  present  at 
the  survey  of  his  land. 

"After  having  attentively  considered  the  contents  of  these 
papers,  there  remained  no  doubt  on  my  part,  that  it  constituted  a 
mutinous  opposition  against  the  rights  of  the  territory  and  author- 
ity of  his  C.  M.,  and  a  contempt  of  the  orders  of  the  officers  under 
whose  authority  the  inhabitants  then  were,  and  I  have  every  rea- 
son to  believe  that  they  were  instigated  to  the  commission  of  this 
act  of  violence  in  armed  force ;  and  I  am  more  confirmed  in  this 
view,  by  the  complaint  brought  me  by  said  M.  Antoine  Soulard, 
who  added  thereto  a  paragraph  from  the  letter  written  him  by  his 


MINE  A  BRETON.  377 

said  assistant  on  tliis  affair,  and  requesting  me  to  verify  the  fact 
and  sustain  his  operations  in  virtue  of  his  appointment  of  Surveyor 
of  this  Upper  Louisiana  by  the  Government.  In  view  of  these 
charges  and  petitions,  I  found  myself  obliged  to  prepare  myself 
to  adopt  the  most  effectual  means  to  substantiate  the  fact  and 
inflict  punishment  on  the  principal  movers  and  most  culpable  of 
this  sedition,  but  I  was  delayed  the  nineteenth  of  the  month  by 
the  arrival  of  your  courier  from  Kaskaskia  at  the  moment  I  was 
about  to  send  an  express  to  said  commandant  Jean  Bap.  Valle  to 
obtain  the  proper  information,  and  if  necessary  to  arm  the  force  to 
inflict  punishment  on  the  guilty  and  compel  them  to  respect  the 
territory  and  rights  of  his  Majesty,  by  sending  the  said  assistant 
Surveyor  escorted  by  a  detachment  of  militia  to  verify  his  opera- 
tions and  be  regarded  as  a  public  officer  on  duty  —  when,  on  the 
said  day  the  19th  of  the  month  of  February  your  disp^.tches  with 
those  of  Messrs.,  the  commissioners  of  his  C.  M.,  enjoining  me  to 
deliver  over  those  posts  to  the  commissioner  of  the  prefect  Fran- 
cois Pierre  Clement  Laussat,  so  soon  as  he  would  present  himself ; 
and  as  you  notified  me  by  your  letter  that  you  would  arrive  as 
soon  as  possible  with  your  soldiers,  I  thought,  therefore,  that  my 
duty  obliged  me  to  suspend  this  act  of  justice,  that  would  not 
suffer  by  the  delay,  tO  devote  myself  entirely  to  the  cares  neces- 
sary to  be  ready  to  receive  you,  and  transfer  to  you  this  Territory 
without  delay  and  in  a  state  of  tranquility ;  in  consequence  I  sim- 
ply wrote  to  said  commandant  Valle  of  date  20th  in  returning  him 
his  papers,  that  in  view  of  the  circumstances  he  had  only  to  send 
some  one  to  the  Mine  a  Breton  to  take  the  declarations  neces- 
sary to  identify  the  principal  movers  in  the  seditious  move- 
ment, to  the  end  that  the  violence  done  his  majesty's  territory 
should  not  go  unpunished,  notwithstanding  the  change  of  govern- 
ment ;  proposing  to  appeal  to  the  representative  authority  as  I  do 
this  day. 

"  But  it  seems  these  seditious  persons  were  so  determined,  that 
the  said  commandant  was  not  able  to  have  my  above  cited  order 
carried  into  execution.  To  not  expose  the  person  he  would  have 
sent,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  I  did  not  instruct  him  to  send  a  de- 
tachment of  militia  for  his  protection,  he  simply  ordered  the  com- 
issary  of  Police  of  the  said  Mines  to  signify,  in  presence  of  two 


378  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

witnesses,  to  all  the  parties  named  in  Madden's  report,  to  appear 
before  him  within  eight  days,  under  penalty  of  being  prosecuted 
under  the  laws,  etc.,  as  the  said  commandant  informed  me  by  bis 
official  letter  of  February  25th. 

"  Following  this,  I  awaited  the  result  of  these  investigations  to 
apply  to  you,  as  I  have  already  stated,  and  make  known  to  you  the 
guilty  ones,  but  the  said  commandant,  whom  you  have  retained 
in  his  office,  by  a  letter  of  the  19th  of  this  month,  tells  me  that 
those  people  instead  of  complying  with  the  summons  made  them 
to  appear  before  liim,  have  sent  him  a  petition  that  he  forwarded 
to  you,  and  of  which  he  sent  me  a  copy.  As  the  contents  of  this 
copy  are  of  an  incendiary  nature,  and  a  characteristic  sequel  of 
their  sedition  against  the  Spanish  government  under  which  these 
same  inhabitants  bad  received  but  favors,  and  had  they  had  any 
grievances  to  complain  of  at  this  time  ?  they  should  have  presented 
them  and  never  have  revolted,  above  all  in  specifying  the  limits  to 
which  they  were  willing  that  the  lands  should  be  surveyed,  and 
probably  reserve  for  themselves,  without  title,  those  within  their 
said  limits,  which  they  think  probably  they  may  possess  through 
this  act  of  violence. 

"After  the  exposition  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  I  leave  it  to  your 
knowledge  and  sagacity  to  pursue  the  course  you  may  deem  proper 
to  take  on  this  outrage  committed  against  the  rights  of  sovereignty 
of  the  King  my  master ;  and  1  pray  you  to  take  the  steps  that  are 
in  your  power  that  the  person  interested  Mr.  Paschal  Detchemendy 
be  not  wronged  by  the  delay  occasioned  him  by  the  interference 
of  these  seditious  persons,  by  having  surveyed  the  land  which  was 
granted  him.  I  add  hereto  copies  of  the  papers  referred  to  in  the 
present — as  follows:  — 

"  From  Mr.  B.  Valle  marked  A.  and  the  papers  there  cited  with 
the  official  note  of  A.  Soulard  in  possession  of  said  commandant, 
if  he  has  not  recently  sent  them  to  you,  with  the  petition  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Mine  a  Breton. 

"  Copy  of  the  Paragraph  of  Mr.  Madden's  letter  marked  B 
•' Also  my  official  note  to  said  Valle  •'      0 

"Also  M.  B.  Valla's  reply  to  my  above  "      D 

'  •  Also  from  same  with  copy  of  the  petition  above  cited  • '      K 


STODDARD'S  REPLY  TO  DELAS8U8.  379 

"  The  good  feeling  that  has  always  subsisted  between  the  Officers 
of  his  C.  M.  and  the  United  States,  and  particularly,  under  pre- 
sent circumstances,  between  you  and  myself,  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  duties  of  our  respective  commissions,  leaves  me  no 
room  to  doubt  that  you  will  find  nothing  but  what  is  just  and  rea- 
sonable in  the  request  that  I  have  the  honor  to  address  to  you. 
I  will  be  obliged  to  you  to  forward  your  reply,  that  I  may  trans- 
mit the  same  to  the  commissioners  of  his  C.  M. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  the  highest  consideration 
Sir,  your  very  humble  and  Obd't.  Servant, 

"  Chas.  Dehault  Delassus. 

"  St.  Louis,  3rd  April,  1804. 

"  Sir:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  30th  ultimo,  as  also  the 
several  papers  accompanying  it  relative  to  the  conduct  of  the 
people  at  Belleview  in  preventing  the  surveys  of  the  lands  at  that 
place. 

"As  this  transaction  happened  under  the  Spanish  Government,  I 
have  my  doubts,  whether  the  United  States  can  take  cognizance  of  it. 
A  crime  of  this  nature  committed  against  one  government,  seems 
not  to  be  punishable  by  another ;  tho'  if  any  private  injury  be  in- 
volved in  it,  perhaps  a  reparation  in  damages  may  be  legally 
obtained. 

To  prevent  such  excesses  for  the  future,  as  well  as  to  save  un- 
necessary expenses,  I  have  conceived  advisable  to  suspend  all 
surveys  under  Spanish  Grants  and  concessions,  and  orders  to  this 
effect  have  been  given  to  the  Surveyor-General.  These  two 
points,  however,  I  shall  reserve  for  the  consideration  of  the  act- 
ing Governor-General  and  Intendant,  to  whom  I  will  write  on  the 
subject,  and,  at  the  same  time,  transmit  him  the  necessary  Docu- 
ments by  the  first  safe  conveyance  by  water. 

"I  am,  sir,  with  sentiments  of  respect, 

"  Your  very  humble  Servant, 

"Amos  Stoddard, 
"  Capt  &  first  Civil  Comd't,  Upper  Louisiana. 

"To  Col.  Delassus." 


380  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

"  To  Capt.  Amos  Stoddard,  first  civil  command' t  of  St.  Louia  dis- 
trict : 

"  Complains  James  Culbertson  against  Michael  Mackey,  for 
that  Haid  Mackey  at  St.  Louis  in  saidU.  Louisiana,  on  tlie  twenty- 
seventli  day  of  April  last  past,  with  force  and  arms,  did  take, 
steal,  and  carry  away,  the  following  articles  of  clotliing  the  prop- 
erty of  your  complainant,  viz.,  one  silver  watch,  valued  at  fifteen 
Dollars,  one  great  coat,  valued  at  ten  Dollars,  one  roundabout 
jacket,  valued  at  ten  Dollars,  one  vest,  valued  at  five  Dollars, 
one  pair  of  blue  pantaloons,  valued  at  ten  Dollars,  and  one  pair  of 
buckskin  leather  pantaloons,  valued  at  fifteen  Dollars.  Where- 
fore your  complainant  prays  that  said  Mackey  may  be  appre- 
hended and  held  to  answer  to  the  above  complaint,  and  further 
to  be  dealt  with  as  to  law  and  justice  shall  appertain. 
St.  Louia,  May  4,  1801. 

Jahe»  Culbertson. 

"  Daniel  Fralee  and  Calvin  Adams  are  authorized  to  apprehend 
the  body  of  the  said  Michael  Mackey  and  have  him  before  us. 
"  St.  Louis,  4  May,  1804. 

"A.  Stoddard." 

*•  We  now  present  the  body  of  the  said  Mackey  to  the  com- 
mandant. 
'«  Mat  4,  1804. 

"  Daniel  Fralee 

"  Calvin  Adams." 

"And  now  Michael  Mackey  is  arraigned  on  the  complaint  of 
James  Culbertson,  in  which  he  is  charged  with  stealing  sundry 
articles  of  wearing  apparel  belonging  to  said  Culbertson  —  to 
which  said  complaint  the  said  Mackey  pleaded  Guilty.  It  is, 
therefore,  considered  and  decreed  by  us,  that  the  said  Michael 
Mackey  pay  to  the  said  James  Culbertson  the  sum  of  fifteen  Dol- 
lars, which  with  some  of  the  articles  of  wearing  apparel  returned, 
amounts  to  the  value  of  the  goods  stolen,  and  also  that  the  said 
Mackey  pay  the  further  sum  of  thirty  Dollars,  being  the  costs  of 
prosecution ;  and  if  the  said  Mackey  does  not  pay  the  aforesaid 
sums,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  forty-five  Dollars  by  12  o'clock  at 


DELASSUS  TO  JNO.  B.  VALLE  381 

noon  to-morrow,  the  said  Culbertson  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  to  sell  and  dispose  of  said  Mackey  for  the  term  of  four 
calendar  months  from  this  date,  to  any  person  whomsoever,  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  the  aforesaid  sum  of  forty-flve  Dollars. 
"  Due  to  Culbertson         015,  A.  Stoddard,  Capt. 

"    to  Calvin  Adams       4,    and Jirst  C.  Comd't.  U.  Louisiana. 

"    to  Danl,  Fralee,       24, 

"    to  the  Commandant  2,  for  warrant  and  tryal." 

$45 


"  To  Mr.  John  Bapt.  Valli,  Civil  Commandant  of  the  Post  of  St. 

Genevieve : 

"  In  the  superior  orders  which  I  have  received  from  the  commis- 
sioners of  his  Catholic  Majesty,  dated  Dec.  30th  of  the  last  year, 
to  deliver  up  this  post,  and  which  were  also  sent  to  you  ;  it  is  there 
expressly  ordered  to  also  deliver  the  archives  with  such  papers 
and  documents  as  would  appear  to  have  connection  with  the 
inhabitants  of  the  district  and  their  property,  taking  a  receipt 
for  yverything,  and  a  statement  of  those  papers  not  delivered. 
So  that  it  may  be  known  what  has  been  delivered  up  to  the 
French  Republic,  and  specify  the  same  in  the  general  inventory, 
&c.,  &c. 

'  'And  by  another  order  which  I  received  from  the  Marquis  of 
Casa  Calvo,  June  24th,  1  am  enjoined  to  bring  luith  me  the  govern- 
ment correspondence  now  in  all  the  posts  of  Upper  Louisiana, 
that  has  no  relation  to  suits,  deeds,  grants  of  land,  &c.,  or  with  the 
individual  fortunes  and  interests  of  the  inhabitants,  <fcc. 

"As  up  to  this  day,  you  have  as  yet  sent  me  no  inventory  of  the 
papers  that  you  have  passed  over  to  the  United  States,  or  of 
those  which  you  have  retained  in  their  name,  nor  of  those  above 
cited  that  I  must  take  with  me,  I  beg  of  you  to  at  once  busy 
yourself  with  tiiat  matter,  and  send  it  to  me  as  soon  as  you  have 
finished  it ;  that  is  to  say,  you  will  send  me  a  list  of  those  you 
keep,  and  a  copy  of  the  list  of  those  passed  over  to  the  United 
States.  And,  also,  the  papers  of  government  correspondence,  of 
the  Lieutenants-Governors,  and  others  of  public  matters,  relating 


382  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

to  War,  Political  dispositions,  &c.,  having  no  relation  with  your 
inhabitants  and  the  colony  —  with  a  list  appended  in  your  hand- 
writing, and  which  it  is  important  to  the  old  Government  to  re- 
tain,  according  to  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty.  As  fur  example, 
an  order  of  the  Governor  Baron  de  Carondelet,  of  date  June  22, 
1792,  apeaiting  of  the  measures  for  the  relief  of  New  Madrid, 
&c.,  &c. 

"It  is  proven  by  an  official  letter  of  the  Baron  de  Carondelet, 
dated  January  27,  1795,  in  reply  to  Don  Zenon  Trudeau,  that  the 
Fort  at  Ste.  Genevieve  was  mounted  by  four  cannons  of  the  King, 
and  one  of  a  private  estate.  By  a  letter  of  the  same  Governor,  of 
the  29tb,  same  month  and  year,  the  commandant  at  Ste.  Gene- 
vieve is  ordered  to  turn  over  to  the  care  of  the  estate  of  Charles 
Peyroux,  the  small  cannon  or  swivel  which  was  in  the  new  Fort,  and 
which  was  thought  useless,  of  course  there  remains  no  doubt  that  the 
cannons  of  which  we  speak  lastly  belong  to  the  King,  conse- 
quently you  will  have  them  together,  so  that  I  may  take  them 
with  me  on  my  passage  by  your  post,  about  the  close  of  the 
month  of  September,  or  commencement  of  October. 
"  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping. 
"St.  Louis,  August  10,  1804. 

*'  Charles  Dehault  Delassus. 


MISCELLANEOUS   LETTERS. 

"  Mt  Dear  Sib:  I  had  the  honor  this  moment  to  receive  your 
note  of  the  present  day,  together  with  your  very  acceptable  pres- 
ent for  Mrs.  Harrison  and  myself. 

"Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  that  I  esteem  my  visit  to  St.  Louis  as 
an  event  the  most  fortunate  —  it  has  produced  an  intimacy  with  a 
family  which  I  shall  continue  to  love  and  honor  as  long  as  I  have 
life. 

"  Inclosed  you  have  a  copy  of  my  notification  respecting  the 
wood.  I  have  taken  care  to  have  it  made  as  public  as  pos- 
sible. 


CAPT.  STODDARD  TO  COL.  DELA8SU8.       383 

"  Be  pleased  to  present  rae  in  terms  of  the  warmest  respect  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  T)e  Louis  Siere. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  sincere  Respect  and  attachment, 
"My  Dear  Sir. 

"  Your  most  humble  Servant, 

"  WiLUAM  Henrt  Harrison. 
Cahokia,  6th  Nov.,  1802. 
''The  Hom'ble  Chas.  Dehault  Delassus,  &c.,  &c. 


"St.  Louis,  26th  Sept.,  1804. 
"  Dear  Sir:  Inconsequence  of  your  letter  of  this  date,  I  am  led 
to  suspect  that  I  have  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  etiquette,  if  not 
of  duty.  It  never  before  occurred  to  me,  that  it  was  necessary 
and  proper  on  my  part  to  acquaint  you  of  the  arrival  of  Major 
Bruff  and  of  the  consequent  military  command  of  Upper  Louisiana 
which  has  devolved  on  him. 

"  I  now  do  myself  the  honor  to  enclose  you  an  extract  of  a  letter 
from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  me  on  the  subject ;  and  permit  me 
to  add,  that  Major  Bruff  quarters  in  the  same  house  with  me, 
and  that  he  assumed  the  military  command  of  Upper  Louisiana 
on  the  first  day  of  July  last. 

"  With  sentiments  of  respect, 

"  lam,  Sir,  your  hum.  ser't, 
"Amos  Stoddard,  Capt.  Art'y  Corps. 
"  Col.  Chas.  D.  Delassds." 


"  War  Department,  May  4,  1804. 

"  Major  Bruff  will  probably  arrive  soon  after  this  reaches  you  ; 
he  will  have  the  command  of  Upper  Louisiana  and  its  vicinity, 
and  to  whom  you  will  communicate  all  instructions  you  may  have 
received  from  me.  General  Wilkinson  or  the  commissioners  at 
New  Orleans ;  and  you  will  afford  Major  Bruff  every  aid  in  your 
power  in  all  matters  appertaining  to  the  interest  of  the  country, 
or  the  good  of  the  service. 

"  Henrt  Dearborn. 

"  Capt.  Amos  Stoddard." 


384  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


CAPT.  MERIWETHER  LEWIS 

passed  the  winter  of  1803-4  in  St.  Louis,  pi'eparing 
for  his  expedition  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 

He  addressed  the  following  note  to  Col.  Augusta 
Chouteau,  translated  for  him  into  French :  — 

"St.  Louis,  Jan'y  4,  1804. 
"  Sir:  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  add  to  this,  additional  ques- 
tions of  a  mixed  nature  relating  to  Upper  Louisiana,  your  answers 
to  which  will  be  extremely  gratifying,  and  very  gratefully  ac- 
knowledged. 

"  Your  friend  and  Ob't  Servant, 

"  Mekiwethef.  Lewis,  Capt. 

''1st  U.  S.  Regt.Infy. 
"  Mr.  Aog's.  Chouteau, 

mixed  questions  relating  to  upper  louisiana. 

•'  1.  What  is  the  present  population? 

"  2.  What  is  the  number  of  Emij^rants  from  the  United  States 
into  this  country  since  the  last  year,  ending  Oct.  31,  1803,  and 
what  is  the  proportion  of  this  kind  of  people,  to  the  other  free 
white  population  of  Upper  Louisiana? 

"  3.  What  number  of  slaves  and  other  people  of  colour? 

"  4.  What  is  the  quantity  of  land  granted,  or  which  is  claimed 
by  individuals?  The  nature  of  the  right,  or  pretensions  by  which 
the  present  possessors  hold  these  lands  ?  and  the  probable  propor- 
tions of  the  whole  amount  which  is  separately  held  by  these  re- 
spective titles? 

"  5.  What  is  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  in  general  in  re- 
gard to  wealth?  and  what  kind  of  property  generally  constitutes 
that  wealth  ? 

"6.  What  is  the  situation  and  extent  of  the  several  settlements? 
and  what  is  the  prospect  of  each  to  become  the  most  peopled? 


CHARLES  DEHAULT  UELA88U8.  385 

tliat  is  to  say  (allowing  aa  a  rule  a  family  for  each  mile  tscpiare) 
what  proportion  docs  tlie  remaining  population  of  each  settlement 
bear  to  the  remaining  number  of  square  miles  she  contains. 

"  7.  What  is  the  condition  of  Agriculture?  and  what  improve- 
ments, and  to  what  extent,  have  been  made  on  newly  inhabited 
lands? 

"  8.  What  is  the  probable  amount  in  dollars  of  goods  annually 
brought  into  Upper  Louisiana?  What  proportion  of  them  is  in- 
tended for  the  consumption  of  her  people,  and  what  proportion 
for  her  Indian  Trade?  What  proportion  of  all  her  entries  arrives 
by  water  from  Canada,  New  Orleans,  or  the  United  States? 

"  9.  What  is  the  amount  in  dollars  of  the  annual  exports  of 
Upper  Louisiana?  Of  what  articles  do  they  consist  in,  and  what 
proportion  goes  out  by  each  of  the  routes,  Canada,  New  Orleans, 
or  the  United  States? 

"  10.  What  are  the  names  and  nick-names  of  all  the  villages 
of  Upper  Louisiana?  Where  are  they  situated?  When  estab- 
lished, and  the  number  of  houses  and  people  they  contain  at 
[present  ? 

"11.  What  are  your  mines  and  minerals?  Have  you  lead, 
iron,  copper,  pewter,  gypsum,  salts,  salines,  or  other  mineral 
waters,  nitre,  stone-coal,  marble,  lime-stone,  or  any  other  mineral 
substance?  Where  are  they  situated,  and  in  what  quantities 
found  ? 

"12.  Which  of  those  mines  or  salt  springs  are  worked?  and 
what  quantity  of  metal  or  salt  is  annually  produced  ? 

"  13.  What  are  the  animals,  birds  and  fish  of  Louisiana?  and 
what  their  form,  appearance,  habits,  dispositions,  of  those  espe- 
cially that  are  not  abundant  in  the  inhabited  parts  of  the  country  ? 

"M.  L." 


GOV.  CHARLES  DEHAULT  DELA8SU8. 

The  ancestors  of  this  gentlemen  were  of  the  old 
nobility  of  France,  of  the  town  of  Bouchaine, 
Hainault,  old  French  Flanders  (now  the  Department 

25 


386  ANNAL8  OP  8T,  LOUIS. 

of  the  North,  the  chief  city  of  which  being  Lille),  of 
which  they  were  hereditary  mayors,  and  filled  other 
important  positionH.  In  that  city  he  wafl  born  in 
Api-il,  1764. 

lu  1782,  at  the  age  of  18  years,  he  entered  the 
Spv^nieih  service  as  a  cadet  in  the  royal  regiment  of 
guards,  of  which  the  King  himself  was  the  Colonel. 
In  1703,  at  the  age  of  20  years,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel,  for  distinguished 
Bervices  in  leading  his  company  as  captain  of  Grena- 
diers to  the  assault  and  capture  of  Fort  St.  Elmo,  in 
the  Pyrenees  and  in  several  other  battles  in  that 
campaign.  In  1704  he  was  promoted  and  ordered  to 
the  command  of  a  battalion  of  the  King's  "body 
guard,"  at  Madrid,  the  capital. 

Keceiving  here  a  letter  from  his  father,  who  had 
been  driven  from  France  with  his  family  by  the  Rev- 
olution, and  had  taken  refuge  in  Louisiana,  Col. 
Delassus  abandoned  his  advantageous  position  at 
Madrid,  and  on  his  application  to  the  King,  was 
transferred  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  to  the  "Louisiana 
Regiment,"  so  that  he  might  be  useful  to  his  father's 
family,  and  yet  continue  in  the  Spanish  service.  He 
arrived  in  IS^ew  Orleans  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1704.  In  1706  the  Governor-General,  the  Baron  de 
Carondelet,  appointed  him  civil  and  military  com- 
mander (3rd)  of  the  post  of  !N"ew  Madrid.     In  1700, 


CHARLE8  DEHAULT  DKLAS8UB.  387 

by  orders  from  Spain,  ho  was  iippointed  by  Governor- 
General  don  Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos,  lieutenant- 
governor  and  commander-in-chief  of  Upper  Louisi- 
ana at  St.  Louis.  In  1802,  he  received  the  king's 
commission  as  full  Colonel  of  the  Louisiana  regi- 
ment, in  1804,  March  9th,  transferred  this  Upper 
Louisiana  to  Capt.  Amos  Stoddard,  U.  S.  A.,  ao 
agent  of  France. 

After  the  transfer.  Col.  Delassus  remained  here 
until  October  of  that  year,  when  he  descended  the 
river  to  New  Orleans,  with  his  few  remaining  Span- 
ish troops,  being  ordered  to  Pensacola,  Florida, 
the  headquarters  of  his  regiment,  to  assume  command 
as  its  Colonel.  Subsequently  he  was  ordered  to  Ba- 
ton Rouge  to  relieve  Governor  de  Grand  Pre,  and 
remained  here  in  command  until  1810,  when  he  re- 
signed his  position  and  closed  his  military  career  of 
nearly  thirty  years  at  the  age  of  forty- six. 

Col.  Delassus  married  at  Baton  Rouge,  in  1811, 
a  daughter  of  don  Gilberto  Leonardo,  the  Spanish 
Contador  (auditor) .  Their  only  child,  Augustus,  was 
born  in  New  Orleans,  July  J:,  1813. 

Madame  Delassus  died  in  the  South,  in  1816. 
Mr.  De  L.  then  came  up  to  St.  Louis  with  his  son, 
three  years  of  age,  and  purchased  a  place  below  the  town 
(afterwards  suburb  St.  George),  where  he  continued 
to  reside  with  us  about  ten  years,  returning  to  New 
Orleans  in  1826.     He  paid  us  a  brief  visit  in  July, 


388  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

1836,  on  which  occasion  he  was  a  guest  of  our  native 
born  fellow-townsman,  Henry  G.  Soulard,  son  of 
Antoine  Soulard,  the  countryman  and  intimate  f liend 
of  Delassus,  and  with  whom  he  had  been  associated 
in  the  administration  of  public  affairs. 

Governor  Delassus  died  in  New  Orleans,  May  1, 
1842,  aged  78  years.  His  only  child,  Augustus, 
lives  at  his  homestead  at  De  Lassus  Station,  Iron 
Mountain  Railroad,  St.  Francois  County,  and  a  son 
of  this  latter,  son-in-law  of  our  old  fellovz-citizen, 
Henry  L.  Clark,  lives  at  home  with  his  father. 


MAJOR  AMOS    STODDARD 

was  born  in  Massachusetts.  The  first  organiza- 
tion of  the  army  of  the  United  States  after  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution  was  by  act  of  Congress  in 

1797,  providing  for  one  regiment  of  artillerists  and 
two  of  infantry. 

Amos  Stoddard  was  appointed  by  President  Adams 
a  captain  in   the  regiment  of   artillery   on  June  4, 

1798.  Two  years  before  the  establishment  of  our 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 

After  our  purchase  of  Louisiana,  Capt.  Stoddard 
was  appointed  by  President  Jefferson  the  commis- 
sioner to  receive  this  upper  portion,  and  to  remain  in 
charge  of  the  same,  as  civil  and  military  command- 
ant, until  further  instructed. 


EAJILV  PHYSICIANS.  389 

On  July  1, 1804,  he  was  relieved  in  his  military 
command  of  the  post  by  his  senior  officer,  Major 
James  Bruff,  but  still  continued  to  exercise  the 
functions  of  civil  chief  magistrate  until  Sept.  30 
following,  when  he  was  relieved  altogether  by  Gen'l. 
Harrison,  governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  to  which 
we  were  attached  for  a  brief  period. 

After  Capt.  Stoddard  was  relieved  of  the  command 
at  St.  Louis,  he  was  ordered  to  the  South,  where  he 
remained  on  duty  at  various  places  in  Lower  Louisi- 
ana for  about  five  years.  There  he  gathered  his 
materials  for  his  "  Sketches  of  Louisiana,"  published 
by  Matthew  Carey,  in  Philadelphia,  in  1812. 

While  in  the  South  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Major,  June  30,  1807  —  and  after  our  declaration  of 
war  against  England,  in  June,  1812,  being  on  active 
service  in  the  field,  hu  was  mortally  wounded  in  the 
action  at  the  sortie  of  Fort  Meigs,  in  Ohio,  on  May 
5, 1813,  and  died  a  few  days  after  the  action.  Major 
Stoddard  had  never  married. 


THE  PHYSICIANS   OF   THE   EARLY  FREXCH  AND  SPAN- 
ISH DAYS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

DOCTOR  ANDRE  AUGUST  COND^ 

is  the  first  physician  whose  name  is  found  in  our  early 
archives.  A  native  of  Aunis,  France,  he  was  post 
surgeon  in  the  French  service  at  Fort  Chartres  prior 


390  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

to  the  cession  to  England,  and  removed  over  to  this 
side  with  the  few  soldiers  brought  over  by  St.  Ange 
de  Bellerive,  after  he  had  placed  the  British  Captain 
Sterling  in  possession  of  the  other,  on  Oct.  20,  1765. 
Doctor  Cond^  had  married  Marie  Anne  Bardet  de  La- 
feme,  July  16,  1763,  whom,  with  his  infant  daughter, 
Marie  Anne,  he  brought  oyer  with  him  to  the  new 
post.  He  received  from  Governor  St.  Ange,  June  2, 
1766,  a  concession,  the  fifth  recorded  in  the  "  Livres 
Terriens" — the  land-grant  books  —  of  two  adjoin- 
ing lots  in  the  village,  fronting  two  hundred  and 
forty  feet  on  Second  Street,  by  one  hundred  and  fifty 
deep,  being  the  east  half  of  the  block  next  south  of 
the  Catholic  church  block  (now  N'o.  58).  On  this 
lot  he  built  for  his  residence  a  house  of  upright  posts, 
with  a  barn  and  other  conveniences,  where  he  re- 
sided for  some  ten  years,  until  his  death,  Nov.  28? 
1776. 

Doct.  Conde  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  education, 
wrote  a  beautiful  hand,  and  a  prominent  man  in  the 
village  in  his  day.  He  had  an  extensive  professional 
practice,  as  well  on  the  west  as  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  being  for  a  time  alone  in  his  profession  at  this 
point.  Having  died  intestate,  the  governor  appointed 
his  relative,  Louis  Dubreuil,  merchant,  guardian  to 
his  two  minor  daughters,  the  eldest  Marianne,  men- 
tioned above,  the  second,  Constance,  born  in  St. 
Louis  in  1768.     An  inventory  of  his  estate,  taken  a 


EARLY  PHYSICIANS  OP  ST,  LOUIS.  391 

few  days  after  his  death,  includes  the  names  (num- 
bering two  hundred  and  thirty-three),  of  all  those 
indebted  to  him  on  both  sides  of  the  river  for  profes- 
sional services  rendered,  comprising  nearly  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  two  places,  and  might  almost  serve 
for  a  directory,  had  such  a  thing  then  been  needed. 
His  widow  married  a  second  husband,  Gaspard  Kou- 
bieu,  also  a  European,  Sept.  19,  1777.  They  sub- 
sequently removed  to  St.  Charles,  where  they  both 
died. 

Doct.  Conde's  eldest  daughter,  Marianne,  was  mar- 
ried to  Charles  Sanguinet,  Sr.,  Aug.  1,  1779,  and  the 
second,  Constance,  first  to  Bonaventura  Collell,  a 
Spanish  officer,  in  the  year  1788,  and  secondly  to 
Patricio  Lee,  in  1797.  Bach  of  these  ladies  left  a  nu- 
merous progeny.  The  Sanguinets  of  St.  Louis 
include  the  Benoists,  the  wife  of  Hon.  John  Hogan, 
former  postmaster  and  member  of  Congress,  Wm. 
H.  Cozens,  etc.  —  and  the  Lees  of  St.  Charles,  Mrs. 
Thos.  and  Stephen  Rector,  Rousseaus,  Benjamin 
O'Fallon  and  others. 


DOCT.    JNO.    B.    VALLEAU, 

a  native  of  France  in  the  service  of  Spain,  the  sec- 
ond physician,  who  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1767,  has 
already  been  noticed  m  the  early  part  of  our  annals. 


392  ANNALS  OP  8T.  LOUIS. 


DOCT.  ANTOINE  RETMAL, 


appears,  from  the  archives,  to  have  been  the  third 
surgeon  in  St.  Louis,  from  about  the  year  1776.  In 
the  year  1777,  he  purchased  from  one  Jean  Hug^,  the 
west  half  of  the  block  (now  No.  60),  on  the  east  side 
of  Third  Street,  from  Market  to  Chestnut  Streets,  with 
a  house  of  posts  at  the  south  end,  fronting  on  Market 
Street,  opposite  the  Catholic  graveyard.  The  north 
end  of  this  lot  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Chestnut 
and  Third  Streets,  is  now  occupied  by  the  Missouri 
Republican  building. 

Keynal  lived  hei'e  for  over  twenty-three  years,  and 
then  sold  it  to  Eugenio  Alvarez  in  November,  1799, 
removing  to  St.  Charles,  where  he  ended  his  days. 


DR.    BERNARD   OIBKIKS 


was  the  fourth  physician  of  St.  Louis  in  the  years 
1779-1780,  as  we  find  him  the  possessor  of  a  house 
and  lot  at  that  period,  but  of  what  nationality,  where 
from,  or  whether  he  died  here  or  removed  from  the 
place,  is  not  found  in  the  archives  of  the  day. 


DOCT.    CLADDIO   MERCIER 


came  up  to  St.  Louis  from  U^ew  Orleans  early  in  1784. 
His  native  place  was  Lavisiere,  Dauphiny,  France, 


ARCHIVES  OP  ST.  LOUIS.  393 

where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1726.  He  had  resided 
for  a  time  in  New  Orleans,  wliere  he  had  acquired 
some  property,  and  left  a  will  there  when  he  came  up 
to  St.  Louis,  which  he  had  executed  in  1784. 

He  added  a  codicil  to  this  will  at  St.  Louis,  dated 
May  17, 1786,  in  which  he  re-afRrms  his  first  will, 
emancipates  his  negro  woman,  Francoise,  gives  one 
hundred  dollars  to  the  poor  of  St.  Louis,  and  appoints 
Jno.  B.  Sarpy  his  executor.  He  died  unmarried  at 
St.  Louis  on  January  20, 1787,  aged  sixty-one  years. 
It  does  not  appear  that  he  practiced  here. 


Early  in  the  year  1792,  there  was  a  Doct.  Philip 
Joachim  Gingembre  (Ginger),  in  St.  Louis.  He 
purchased  a  small  stone  house  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Olive  and  Second  Streets,  where  he  lived  for  a 
few  years ;  he  then  went  to  France,  leaving  his  house 
vacant  and  closed,  not  returning  after  some  years' 
absence,  and  the  house  going  to  ruin,  it  was  sold  by 
order  of  the  governor,  Trudeau,  to  pay  his  creditors. 


THE   ARCHIVES   OF   ST.    LOUIS. 

The  term  ' '  archive ' '  from  the  Latin  of  ' '  deposi- 
torium  "  signified  originally  a  place  of  deposit,  for 
safe  keeping,  of  official  documents,  including  subse- 
quently in  the  term  the  papers,  etc.,  therein  deposited 


394  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

Here  in  St.  Louis,  at  the  present  day,  in  speaking 
of  the  old  French  and  Spanish  archives  of  the  early 
village,  we  apply  the  term  to  the  "  hooJcs^^  in  which 
a  large  portion  of  these  early  documents  have  been 
placed  on  record  since  the  change  of  government. 

The  documents  deposited  in  the  archives  of  the 
French  and  Spanish  days  of  St.  Louis  comprised  con- 
cession or  grants  of  lots  and  lands,  deeds,  leases, 
marriage  contracts,  wills,  inventories,  powers  of  attor- 
ney, agreements  and  many  miscellaneous  documents 
pertaining  to  individuals.  These  papers  were  always 
executed  in  the  presence  of  the  governor,  or  in  his 
absence,  in  the  presence  of  his  official  representative, 
and  were  left  for  safety  in  the  custody  of  the  govern- 
ment authorities ;  and  as  far  the  largest  portion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  that  day  could  not  read,  much  less 
write  their  names,  but  made  their  signatures  with  a 
cross,  as  is  evidenced  by  an  examination  of  them,  they 
were  deemed  safer  in  the  keeping  of  the  government 
than  in  the  possession  of  the  parties  to  whom  they 
mostly  belonged.  Ai  the  date  of  the  execution  of  each 
of  these  papers  no  other  record  was  made  of  it  than  to 
register  it  alphabetically  under  its  proper  head  on  a 
few  sheets  of  foolscap  paper  loosely  stitched  together 
for  the  purpose,  and  at  the  close  of  the  administration 
of  each  successive  governor  this  alphabetical  list  of 
his  otricial  acts  was  certified  to  under  his  own  signa- 
ture, and  together  with  the  original  documents  them- 


ARCHIVES  OF  ST.  LOUIS.  395 

selves  handed  over  into  the  possession  of  his  successor 
in  the  government ;  and  it  was  not  until  after  the 
country  had  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  United 
States  that  these  loose  sheets  were  stitched  together 
in  the  order  of  their  dates,  the  last  of  the  series  being 
that  of  Capt.  Amos  Stoddard,  who  acted  in  the 
capacity  of  the  civil  governor  for  the  United  States 
until  Sept.  30,  1804,  and  who,  having  been  especially 
so  instructed  by  the  president,  made  no  change  in 
regard  to  these  matters,  and  pursued  the  same  course 
as  his  predecessor  under  the  former  dominations. 

Of  these  documents  there  were  over  three  thousand, 
many  of  which  still  remain  in  the  Recorder's  office  in 
St.  Louis  to  the  present  day.  When,  at  the  change 
of  the  government,  March  10, 1804,  these  documents, 
together  with  such  books  and  papers  of  the  old 
French  and  Spanish  authorities  as  related  to  con- 
cessions of  lands  and  lots,  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  authorities  of  the  United  States,  they  consisted 
of  six  small  books  of  ordinary  foolscap  size  of  about 
three  quires  each,  called  the  "Livres  Tei'riens"  (Land 
books),  in  which  were  entered,  very  concisely,  each 
concession  or  grant  of  lands  or  lots,  and  four  smaller 
.books  in  size,  with  leather  covers,  in  which  were 
recorded  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  of  the  al)Ove 
three  thousand  documents  between  the  years  1797 
and  1799.  (From  these  it  would  appear  that  during 
the  first  thirty-five  years  of  the  village  it  was  deemed 


396  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

unnecessary  to  record  these  papers  in  books,  and 
these  lasc  were  so  recorded  at  the  instance,  perhaps, 
of  the  respective  owners,  who  had  an  eye  to  the 
future.) 

What  are  now  designated  as  the  ' '  archives ' '  com- 
prise six  large  volumes,  into  which  are  copied  the 
most  important  of  the  foregoing  three  thousand 
documents,  particularly  all  those  relating  to  real 
property,  lands,  lots  and  houses,  and  of  a  personal 
nature.  These  record  books  were  commenced  in 
Ifovember,  1816,  twelve  years  after  the  change  of 
government,  when  the  country  began  to  increase  in 
population  from  abroad,  and  a  consequen:  increase 
in  the  value  of  lands  and  lots  pointed  out  to  indi- 
viduals the  safety  of  having  their  t'tles  recorded,  and 
for  some  years  thereafter  only  those  were  put  on 
record  whose  owners  were  willing  to  pay  the  fees  for 
recording  the  same. 

The  first  of  these  old  deeds  put  on  record  in  vol- 
ume 1st  of  the  so-called  archives  was  by  Marie  P. 
Leduc,  on  I^ovember  16,  1816. 

The  archives  of  St.  Louis  date  from  January  21, 
1766,  on  which  day  they  were  commenced  by  Joseph 
Labusciere,  in  his  capacity  of  former  notary  of  the 


*  Mr.  Leduc  was  a  native  ol  Paris,  and  had  come  to  the  country  about 
the  close  of  the  last  century,  a  notary  and  scrivener  by  profession,  and 
after  the  acquisition  by  the  United  States  and  the  organization  of  the 
new  territory  was  appointed  the  first  recorder  of  St.  Louis,  and  opened 
the  record  books  In  the  English  language. 


ARCHIVES  OP  ST.  LOUIS.  397 

French  king   in  the  Illinois,  as   per   the  following 
heading  in  his  handwriting :  — 

"  Statement  of  the  deeds,  contracts  and  other  papers  executed 
before  Joseph  Labusciere,  former  attorney  of  the  king,  and  notary 
public  under  the  French  government  in  the  Illinois,  from  April 
21,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-six,  to  the  20th  May, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy." 

On  which  day  they  were  placed,  with  the  govern- 
ment of  Upper  Louisiana,  into  the  possession  of 
Capt.  Pedro  Piernas,  the  newly  appointed  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  his  Catholic  Majesty,  the  King  of 
Spain. 

After  this,  each  successive  Lieutenant-Governor, 
in  turning  over  the  country  to  his  successor  in  office, 
accompanied  it  with  a  similar  statement,  from  which 
the  table  has  been  compiled. 

A  table  showing  the  total  number  of  documents 
executed  in  the  presence  of  the  different  governors, 
as  detailed  in  their  respective  catalogues  of  the 
archives :  — 

By  Gov.  St.  Ange,  from  Jany.  21,  1766,  to  May  20,  1770 197 

"     "     Piernas,       "     May   20,  1770,  "  May  19,  1775 387 

"      "     Cruzat,        "    May  20,  1775,  "  June  17,  1778 209 

'«     DeLeyba,  "    June  18, 1778,  "  June  28, 1780 176 

Cruzat,        "    Sept.  24,  1780,  "  Nov.  25,  1787 454 

•'     Perez,          "    Nov.  25,  1787,  "  July  24,  1792 304 

"     Trudeau,     "     July   21,  1792,  "  Aug.  28,  1799 471 

DeLassus,  "     Aug.  29,  1799,  "  Mar.    9,  1804 585 

Stoddard,     "     Mar.  10,  1804,  "  Sept.  30,  1804 75 

Also  four  small  books  of  Gov.  Trudeau,  each  33-45,  31  &  27. . .  136 

Total 2,985 


u 

U  (I 

(I         u 


398  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

These  documents  were  deeds  and  conveyances  for 
houses,  lots  and  lands,  slaves,  merchandise,  personal 
property,  etc.,  sold  at  public  and  private  sale,  also 
bonds  and  mortgages,  leases,  powers  of  attorney, 
wills,  inventories,  marriage  contracts,  agreements, 
contracts,  bargains,  partitions,  donations,  indentures, 
emancipation  of  slaves,  suits,  civil  and  criminal,  and 
many  other  miscellaneous  papers,  multifarious  in 
their  nature,  etc. 


FIRST  AMERICANS  IN  ST.  LOUIS. 

Until  Clark's  surprise  of  Kaskaskia  in  1778,  no 
American,  as  far  as  known,  had  ever  visited  St. 
Louis.  The  first  one  that  settled  in  St.  Ijouis  was 
Philip  Fine,  born  in  Virginia  about  the  year  1751, 
son  of  Thomas  Fine  and  Agnes  Merchant.  He  came 
to  St.  Louis  in  1781  when  about  thirty  years  of  age, 
and  on  l^ov.  26,  1782,  was  married  to  Mary  Gaig- 
non,  an  elderly  lady  with  a  handsome  property,  who 
had  been  twice  a  widow,  he  a  young  man  of  thii'ty- 
one. 

(Mary  Newby  Cleburne,  born  in  London,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Newby  and  Ann  Spratt,  and  widow  of 
John  Cleburne,  was  married  in  St.  Louis,  Dec.  26, 
1769,  toPhilibert  Gaignon,  son  of  Antoine  Gaignon, 
and  Claudine  Sebrin,  born  in  St.  Laurent,  Beaujo- 


FIRST  AMERICANS  IN  ST.  LOUIS.  399 

lais,  diocese  of  Lyons,  in  Franco,  a  French  soldier ; 
they  became  acquainted  in  coming  together  from 
Canada.  She  died  childless,  Oct.  25,  1791.)  Philip 
Fine,  age  43,  married  his  second  wife  Celeste  (Sarah) 
Boly,  age  17,  daughter  of  John  Boly  and  Sophia 
Shaeffer,  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  Sept.  4, 
1794.  Fine  died  1824-25,  aged  74  years,  at  Fine's 
Ferry,  across  the  Meramec  River  at  its  month,  which 
he  had  established  and  where  he  had  lived  for  many 
years,  leaving  his  widow  and  nine  children  :  Melsor, 
Joseph,  Viza,  Benjamin,  Joshua,  Elizabeth,  Charles, 
Elisha  and  Catherine.  A  number  of  his  posterity  re- 
side about  St.  Louis. 


JOHN  COONS,  A  CARPENTER    AND   JOINER, 

our  second  American  resident  was  here  in  1786, 
and  lived  for  nearly  six  years  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Main  and  Spruce,  v/hich  property  he  sold  in  1792 
to  Philip  Fine,  his  neighbor,  then  across  the  street  at 
the  northwest  corner.  In  1804  Coons  purchased  the 
south  half  of  block  80,  then  open  ground  west  of  the 
village,  300  feet  in  length  from  Third  to  Fourth,  by 
120  feet  front  on  each  of  those  streets.  On  this  lot  he 
built  in  1810  a  large  frame  house,  which  he  sold  to 
James  Baird,  a  blacksmith,  in  1811.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  David  Hiiderbrand  tract  of  640  acres  on 
the  Meramec,  eighteen  miles  southwest  of  St.  Louis, 


400  ANNALS  OP  8T.  LOUIS. 

at  the  Fishpot  Creek,  and  removed  there.  Here  he 
lived  for  over  20  years,  and  sold  the  tract  in  1831  to 
R.  M.  Dougherty,  afterwards  a  justice  of  the  county 
court.  The  place  afterwards  became  well  known  as 
Dougherty's  ferry  and  bridge  over  the  Meraniec. 

After  this  we  lose  sight  of  old  John  Coons  and  his 
wife,  they  had  lived  with  us  in  village  and  county 
over  forty-five  years,  and  were  well  up  in  years. 


JOHN    BOLY,    SKNIOR, 

came  here  in  1794  from  Pittsburgh,  and  lived  for 
some  years  in  St.  Louis,  and  then  settled  on  the  Mer- 
amec,  on  a  tract  he  had  purchased  in  1798  from 
Jesse  Keyne,  here  he  died. 

His  widow,  Sophia  Shaffer,  born  in  Germantown, 
Philadelphia,  about  1743,  died  in  St.  Louis,  Oct.  24, 
1801,  aged  58  years.  They  left  three  sons,  John, 
Henry  and  William,  and  three  daughters,  Elizabeth, 
Maria  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Philip  Fine,  with  children . 

Their  place  on  the  Meramec,  which  became  Jno. 
Boly,  Junior's,  was  long  well  knoAvn  as  Boly's  ford 
and  ferry,  being  on  the  main  road  to  the  salt  works. 
He  and  wife  were  living  in  Carondelet  in  October, 
1823.  _______ 

JOHN     GATES, 

from  Quebec,  counted  with  the  Americans,  came  to 
St.  Louis  in  1796,  and  was   married  to  Genevieve 


FIRST  AMERICANS  IN  ST.  LOUIS.  401 

Morin,  by  Governor  Tnideau,  June  18,  1797.  He 
died  somewhere  up  the  MissisHiiJpi  River,  I  tiiiiik  at 
Fort  Madison,  Iowa. 

They  lived  for  many  years  at  the  soutliwest  corner 
of  Third  and  Poplar,  where  his  widow  and  family 
were  still  Uving  in  1821. 


CALVIN   ADAIIS 

came  here  from  Connecticut  at  the  close  of  the  cen- 
tury with  a  wife  and  sons. 

In  1801  he  lived  in  a  small  house,  built  by  Pierre 
Roy,  blacksmith,  at  the  northwest  coi'iier  of  Main 
and  Plum. 

About  the  year  1814,  he  went  with  others  to  Old 
Mexico,  leaving  his  family  here,  from  which  he 
never  returned,  being  killed  in  the  revolution  in  that 
country. 

WILLIAM   8ULLIVAK 

came  here  in  the  Spanish  days. 

In  June,  1804,  purchased  from  M.  Lisa  the  old 
Barrere  bakery,  then  occupied  temporarily  by  Delas- 
sus'  soldiers  before  going  to  New  Orleans.  He  then 
occupied  the  house  for  some  years  until  he  sold  it  to 
Col.  Easton  in  1808. 

In   December,  1804,  appointed   by  Gen.  W.   H. 


402  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Harrison,  constable  and  coroner  of  St.  Louis  —  for  a 
number  of  years  jailer  of  the  prison  in  the  old  tower 
on  the  hill.  In  1816  when  Chouteau  laid  out  the  first 
addition,  Sullivan  purchased  the  half  block,  south 
side  of  Walnut  from  Fourth  to  Fifth  (site  of  the 
Southern  Hotel),  for  $750.  On  this  he  built  a  small 
frame  in  which  he  died  Dec.  4,  1821,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  under  the  State  laws,  office  northwest  corner 
Main  and  Locust. 


JAMES   RANKIN 


came  here  about  1802-3.  Purchased  in  March, 
1803,  the  old  Mainville  house,  southeast  corner  of 
Main  and  Locust,  where  he  lived  for  a  couple  of 
years  and  then  removed  to  Jefferson  County.  He 
was  the  first  sheriff  of  St.  Louis,  appointed  in  Dec, 
1804. 


DAVID    UOIIRER, 


a  salt  manufacturer  at  the  works  on  the  Meramec, 
bought  in  Feb.,  1804,  a  small  log  house  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Third  and  Elm,  where  he  lived  a  short 
time  and  then  went  to  his  salt  works.  The  property, 
after  several  transfers,  became  Doct.  Robert  Simp- 
son's in  1812,  and  still  belongs  to  his  estate,  now 
74  years. 


PLACES  BELOW  THE  VILLAGE.  403 


A   JOHN   BIGGS 


purchased  in  May,  1804,  from  Joseph  Hebert,  a  small 
frame  house  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Almond,  where  he  lived  for  about  18  months  and  then 
sold  it  to  Col.  Sam'l  Hammond  in  November,  1805. 
These  comprise  all  the  Americans  that  had  become 
residents  of  St.  Louis  prior  to  the  transfer  of  1804. 


PLACES   BELOW   THE   VILLAGE. 

In  the  Spanish  days  of  St.  Louis  there  were  several 
habitations  immediately  below  the  village,  lying  be- 
tween the  road  to  Carondelet  and  the  river,  which  then 
ran  along  much  nearer  to  the  road  than  at  present,  the 
new  shore  line  in  extending  it  south  for  the  formation 
of  the  levee  or  Front  Street,  reclaiming  in  places, 
much  land  that  was  previously  in  the  river.  These 
places,  although  outside  the  village  itself,  yet  as  they 
originated  with  and  belonged  to  parties  in  daily  inter- 
course with  it,  should  not  be  overlooked  in  our  annals. 


THE   80ULA.KD   PLACE. 


The  first  of  these  was  the  Soulard  place  adjoined 
the  village  just  below  the  Mill  Creek.  This  was  a 
concession  to  Gabriel  Cerre  shortly  after  his  removal 


404  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

to  St.  Louis  from  Kaskaskia,  about  the  year  1780,  of 
a  tract  of  76arpents.  In  his  lifetime,  while  residing 
on  his  town  block,  No.  13,  he  made  it  his  country 
seat,  built  a  house,  etc.,  improved  the  grounds  in 
fields,  garden,  orchard,  etc.  After  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Cerre,  July  21,  1800,  and  the  partition  of  the  estate 
June  19,  1802,  it  was  allotted  to  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Julia  Soulard,  and  confirmed  to  Antoine  Soulard  as 
survey  No.  1333  for  64tA  acres. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Soulard  settled  on  the  place, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death  March  10,  1825,  and 
his  widow  and  children  for  some  years  thereafter, 
until  in  1836  they  subdivided  it  into  "  Soulard's  first 
addition."  It  extends  on  Carondelet  Avenue  from 
Park  Avenue  on  the  north,  to  the  Duchouquette 
line,  Lesperance  Street,  on  the  south. 


THB   DUCHOUQUETTE   PLACE. 

The  second  place  was  a  concession  of  Governor 
Cruzat  to  Joseph  Brazeau,  Sr.,  in  1783  of  100 
arpents.  It  was  surveyed  as  ISTo.  298  for  SSy^ir  acres. 
Brazeau  had  improved  it  with  a  stone  house  near  the 
river  front  and  put  it  in  cultivation.  Brazeau  had 
made  his  will  as  long  back  as  May  5,  1798,  in  which  he 
left  all  his  estate  to  his  wife,  they  having  no  children. 
He  survived  eighteen  years  longer,  dying  Nov. 
23, 1816.     After  his  death,  his  widow  in  conformity 


PLACES  BELOW  THE  VILLAGE.  405 

to  her  husband's  wishes,  entered  into  an  agreement 
with  Jno.  B.  Duchouquette,  usually  called  Batiste 
Lami,  husband  of  her  niece,  Marie  Brazeau,  a  daugh- 
ter of  her  husband's  brother,  Louis  Brazeau,  Sr.,  by 
which  she  conveyed  to  them  all  her  property  for  the 
sum  of  $350  per  annum  for  the  remainder  of  her  life. 
This  agreement  she  survived  over  seventeen  years, 
dying  in  February,  1834 ,  at  the  age  of  85  years. 

Duchouquette  himself  died  shortly  after  the  old 
lady,  and  the  tract  was  equally  divided  between  his 
six  children,  since  known  as  the  Lesperance,  Picotte» 
Papin  and  Duchouquette  additions,  from  Ijesperance 
Street,  its  north  boundary,  to  below  Barton  Street, 
its  south  line. 


The  third  place  was  well  known  in  former  years  as 
the 

DELASSUS    HOMESTEAD, 

was  a  concession  by  Gov.  Cruzat  to  Benito  Vasquez 
in  1786  of  a  piece  two  arpents  front  on  the  river,  by 
ten  back  to  the  Carondelet  Road,  20  arpents,  sur- 
veyed as  No.  332  for  17.01  acres. 

This,  after  several  transfers,  became,  in  1811,  the 
property  of  Jos.  Brazeau,  Jr.,  a  nephew  of  old  Jos. 
B.,  who  built  a  good  frame  house  and  otherwise  im- 
proved it,  and  sold  it  to  Theodore  Hunt  in  1815,  and 
he  to  our  old  Governor  Delassus  in  1816,  on  his  re- 


406  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 

turn  to  our  place  from  the  south  after  an  absence  of 
twelve  years.  Mr.  Delassus  resided  hi  this  house 
for  eleven  years,  leaving  St.  Louis  finally  in  1827. 
In  1831,  the  place  was  purchased  by  Win.  T.  Phil- 
lips, who  converted  the  buildings  into  a  powder  mill. 
Adjoining  this  tract  on  the  south  was  another  con- 
cession of  Cruzat  to  Yasquez  of  same  date,  1786, 
for  50  arpents,  survey  'No.  1836  as  42.17  acres. 
This  piece  remained  unimproved  for  many  years, 
after  several  conveyances  from  one  to  another,  these 
two  pieces,  together  59.08  acres,  were  purchased  by 
Doct.  W.  Carr  Lane  in  1836,  who  the  same  year  laid 
out  on  them  Lane's  Suburb  St.  George  from  above 
Victor  to  below  Anna  Street. 


THE   BENT    PLACE. 


The  next,  the  fourth  place  below  St.  Louis  on  this 
side  was  well  known  to  the  people  of  Cahokia  from 
the  earliest  day  of  that  village,  long  before  St.  Louis 
was  ever  conceived  or  dreamt  of.  It  was  here  they 
used  to  land  from  their  canoes  whenev^er  they  came 
over  to  this  side  fishing  or  hunting,  and  that  was  all 
there  was  to  bring  them  over  at  that  early  dry.  It 
was  here  also  Laclede  first  landed  a  half  century 
later  when  seeking  a  suitable  location  for  his  future 
home,  which,  having  selected  and  established,   the 


PLACES  BELOW  THE  VILLAGE.  407 

intervening  space  soon  became  a  beaten  path,  the 
only  one  between  the  places  for  many  years. 

Eugene  Poiire,  (Beau  Soleil)  appears  as  the  first 
owner;  we  find  no  concessions;  he  died  April  30, 
1783. 

His  widow,  nee  Josepha  Godeau,  sold  it  to  Jno. 
J.  Motard,  Oct.  12,  1785,  with  a  house  of  posts, 
ground  enclosed,  for  200  dollars. 

J.  Motard  to  Jno.  B.  Hubert  Lacroix,  May  10, 
1790,  with  a  barn,  etc.,  for  600  dollars. 

Hubert  Lacroix  to  Jno.  Rice  Jones,  of  Kaskas- 
kia,  March  17,  1796,  for  $2,000,  dollars,  $1,000 
cash,  $1,000  in  three  years,  1,000  lbs.  good  flour,  and 
500  lbs.  of  bacon.  Eight  arpents  front  on  Missis- 
sippi, running  back  to  the  Catalan  road,  house  40  feet 
long,  another  30  feet  long,  bake-house  and  oven, 
dairy  and  hen-house,  another  building  of  50  feet,  a 
barn  40  feet,  and  lime-kiln. 

Jones,  finding  it  a  hard  bargain  did  not  pay  the 
second  $1,000,  preferring  to  lose  his  first  $1,000. 
At  the  request  of  Lacroix,  the  governor  appointed 
Charles  Gratiot  and  Charles  Sanguinet  to  appraise 
the  property,  which  having  done,  they  reported  that 
"they  could  not  conscientiously  appraise  the  prop- 
erty at  more  than  $200"  (oh!  what  a  falling  off  was 
there,  my  countrymen).  It  was  then  sold  at  public 
sale  to  the  highest  bidder,  Manuel  Lisa,  for  $201, 
Sept.  9,  1799. 


408  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

M.  Lisa  sold  it  to  Pat  Collins  and  Jos.  Beny, 
June  19, 1804,  for  800  silver  dollars,  or  800  lbs.  good 
powder  at  $1.00  per  pound,  called  67  arpents. 

Patrick  Cullen  and  James  Berry  sold  it  to  Silas 
Bent,  Aug.  10, 1807,  for  300  dollars,  67  arpents,  sur- 
vey No.  99, —  56.53  acres. 

Judge  Bent  put  up  a  new  stone  house  and  many 
improvements  on  the  place  and  lived  there  some 
twenty  years  until  his  death  Nov.  20,  1827,  and  his 
family  for  long  years  afterwards. 

This  place  fronted  the  river  and  road  from  below 
Anna  Street  to  the  Arsenal  grounds. 


AR8ENAL   TRACT,    FIFTH   PLACE. 

The  land  next  south  of  the  Bent  tract  was  in  for- 
mer years,  how  far  back  is  not  known,  occupied  by 
the  half  civilized  remnant  of  the  Delaware  and  Shaw- 
nee tribes  of  Indians  united  as  one  band. 

Part  of  this  land,  eight  arpents  front  on  river  run- 
ning back  to  the  road,  was  conceded  by  Governor 
Cruzat  to  Jos.  M.  Papin,  March  30,  1787,  about  68 
arpents,  survey  334,  —  57.64  acres.  Papin  (in  1812) 
and  wife  (in  1817)  died  still  owning  the  land  unim- 
proved. It  was  sold  by  the  executor  to  Sil.  Y.  Papin, 
Oct.  17, 1817.  After  several  conveyances  of  portions 
of  it  between  the  Papins  and  other  parties,  the  United 


PLACES  BELOW  THE  VILLAGE.  409 

States  became  the  owners  by  purchase  of  a  piece  con- 
taming- 43.19  arpeiits,  the  northeast  portion  on  the 
river  front,  on  which  they  erected  the  Arsenal 
buildings,  enclosed  with  a  stone  wall,  on  the  ground 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Indian  Village.  This 
fronts  from  Arsenal  to  Utah  Streets. 


JOHN   MULLANPHY's. 

The  sixth  place  was  a  concession  to  Joseph  Taillon 
by  the  Governor,  of  6  arpents  front  on  the  river  by 
10  west  to  the  Catalan  road. 

Joseph  Taillon  to  Manuel  Lisa,  July  11,  1799, 
the  above  60  arpents,  with  an  old  cabin  and  some 
fruit  trees  and  corn,  for  $50. 

Manuel  Lisf.  to  Francis  Chatillon,  September  5, 
1799,  the  same  with  a  house  20  by  15  feet,  for  |200.' 

Francis  Chatillon  to  P.  Martin  Ladouceur,  June 
16,  1802,  for  $255. 

Pierre  Martin  to  John  Mullanphy,  April  10,  1805, 
for  $500. 

About  48  arpents,  survey  No.  286,  —  40.83  acres. 

On  this  piece  of  land  was  the  old  original  ferry  to 
Cahokia.  Mullanphy  built  a  small  stone  house  here 
in  1805  to  strengthen  his  title,  the  walls  of  which 
are  still  standing  (1886). 


»  To  President  Street. 


410  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


LOUIS    DUBBEL'IL  S. 


The  seventh  place  was  a  concession  by  Governor 
Cruzat  to  Silvestre  Sarpy  of  4  arpents  front  on  river 
by  8  arpents  deep  to  the  road  to  Catalan's  ford. 

Sarpy  sold  this  to  Louis  Dubreuil  November  22, 
1790,  with  a  house  of  posts  20  by  15  feet,  and 
some  other  improvements,  for . 

Estate  of  Susanne  Dubreuil  to  Louis  Debreuil 
and  Louis  A.  Labeaume,  December  2,  1838,  for 
1680.50.  32  arpents.  Survey  No.  374,  for  27.20 
acres. 


APPENDIX. 


BEING   BRIEF  NOTICES   OF   SOME   OF   THE  MOST   PROMINENT   OF   THE 
EARLY  FAMILIES  OF  ST.  LOUIS;  PARTICULARLY  OF  THOSE  WHOSE 
NAMES   HAVE   BEEN   CONTINUED,  THROUGH  MALE  DE- 
SCENDANTS, TO  THE   PRESENT  TIME. 


PIERRE    LACLEDE. 


But  little  of  his  personal  history  is  known. 

Pierre  Margry,  of  the  French  Naval  Bureau,  fixes  his  birth 
about  1724  in  the  "  Parish  of  Bodons,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Aspre,  diocese  of  Oleron  in  Bearne,  about  fifteen  leagues 
from  Pan,  capital  of  ancient  Navarre,"  now  Department  of 
the  Lower  Pyrenees.^ 

This  would  confirm  the  statement  of  Jno.  B,  Ortes,  who 
died  here  in  1814 — "  that  he  was  born  in  Bion  (Bedons) 
Bearne,  France,  near  the  Pyrenees,  in  the  same  place  as 
Laclede  ;  that  he  came  with  him  to  America,  and  to  St. 
Louis  in  1765." 

In  1755  when  Laclede  came  to  Now  Orleans  he  was  thirty- 
one  years  of  age,  and  Ortes  about  eighteen. 


1  Margry  says  he  was  a  younger  brother  of  M.  Laclede,  chief  circuit 
justice  of  the  province  of  Bearne. 

TlieFreuch  universal  dictionary  of  the  nineteenth  century,  mentions  a 
Laclede,  a  young  French  historLu,  who  died  young  in  173G,  who  had 
written  a  general  history  of  Portugal,  published  at  Paris,  in  two  volumes 
quarto,  in  1735  —  afterwards  translated  into  Portuguese  at  Lisbon  in 
1781-1797. 

The  name  Liguest  is  no  where  found  in  the  French  authorities  and  is 
doubtless  an  appendage. 

(411) 


412  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


MAUIE    THEUE8R    CHOUTEAU, 

maiden  name  Bourgeois,  was  honi  in  New  Orleans  in  the 
year  1733,  and  in  1749,  at  the  nge  of  sixteen  years  was  mar- 
ried to  Auguste  Rene  Chouteau  of  that  place.  The  only 
child  of  this  marriage,  Auguste,  was  born  on  September 
26,  1750. 

This  union  continued  but  for  a  brief  period,  as  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  Mrs.  C.  left  her  husband  and  returned  to  her 
friends. 

The  family  tradition  regarding  the  cause  of  her  separa- 
tion from  Chouteau,  and  her  subsequent  connection  with 
Laclede,  is  this  :  — 

"  She  had  not  long  been  married  to  Chouteau,  who  was 
much  older  than  herself,  and  of  a  jealous  disposition  and 
violent  temper;  than  he  commenced  a  system  of  abuse, 
which  culminated  in  personal  violence  on  his  part,  in  which 
he  inflicted  a  wound  on  her  face  the  scar  of  which  she 
carried  to  her  grave.  After  this  she  left  him  and  returned 
to  her  friends,  which  step  on  her  part,  they  claim,  met 
the  approval,  not  only  of  all  her  friends,  but  of  the 
Catholic  clergy  with  the  bishop  at  their  head,  who  ad- 
vised them  in  future  to  live  apart  from  each  other,  and 
sanctioned  their  separation  as  far  as  he  consistently 
could,  and  which  they  chose  to  consider  as  final  and  com- 
plete. 

•'  Laclede  came  to  New  Orleans  in  1755,  and  after  be- 
coming acquainted  with  each  other,  a  mutual  attachment 
ensued,  which  resulted  in  what  they  chose  to  consider  their 
legal  union,  although  not  strictly  in  conformity  to  the 
usages  of  the  c.hurch,  which  met  the  approval,  not  only  of 
their  personal  friends,  but  of  the  community  at  large  —  for 
New  Orleans  was  then  but  a  very  small  place,  hardly  more 
than  a  village,  its  population  according  to  Gayarre,  not  ex- 


'<»    ;»• 


f;li     iMi     !i  ■•     C( 


MARIE  THKKkSE  HOUHGEOIS.    CHOUTEAU. 


APPENDIX.  413 

ceedinw  2,000  souls,  of  whom  fully  ono-third  were  African 
slaves.     This  was  in  the  year  1757." 

By  this  second  union  she  was  the  mother  of  John  Pierre, 
born  in  1758,  Victoire  in  1760,  Pelagic  in  1762,  and  Mario 
Louise  in  1764. 

Oil  the  3rd  of  August,  1763,  Mrs.  Chouteau  left  New 
Orleans  in  a  boat  with  her  second  husband,  Peter  Laclede 
Liguest,  and  her  children,  for  Upper  Louisiana,  and  landed 
at  Fort  Chartres,  on  the  Illinois  side,  on  November  3d, 
after  a  voyage  up  of  three  months.  Spending  the  winter 
of  1763-64  at  this  place,  sld  proceeded  on  to  Cahokia  in 
March  1764,  where  she  remained  six  months,  during  the 
erection  of  the  first  house  in  St.  Louis,  and  on  its  comple- 
tion in  the  month  of  September  of  that  year,  she  came 
over  to  the  new  post,  the  first  white  female  inhabitant  of 
the  west  bank  of  this  upper  Louisiana,  and  here  she  passed 
the  balance  of  her  days. 

After  the  death  of  Laclede  on  Juno  20,  1778,  Mrs.  C, 
who  was  a  thrifty,  industrious  woman,  carried  on  bu^^iness 
on  a  small  scale  on  her  ov/n  account,  and  in  the  thirty-six 
years  that  she  survived  him  had  accumulated  a  very  hand- 
some estate  in  property,  money  and  slaves.  Thirty-one 
years  of  age  on  her  arrival  here,  Mrs.  C.  spent  the  balance 
of  her  long  life  in  this  place,  residing  in  the  same 
house,^  for  just  half  a  century.  She  died  in  it  on  Aug. 
14,  1814,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-one  years,  leav- 
ing a  numerous  progeny  and  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all. 

Her  children  were, 

i.  Augustus,  born  Sept.  26,  1750;  ho  married  Theresa 
Cerre,  Sept.  21,  1786,  and  died  Feb.  24,  1829,  in  his 
seventy-ninth  year. 

2.  John  Pierre,  born  Oct.  10,  1758,  died  July  10,  1849, 


1  Southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Chestnut  Streets. 


414  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOXHS. 

a{]fed  ninety  years,  nine  montlis.  Married  first  Pela^ie 
Kiersereau,  July  26,  1783,  who  died  Feb.  9,  1793; 

And  secondly,  Brigitte  Saucier,  Feb.  14,  1794,  who  died 
May  18,  1829. 

3.  Victoire,  born  1760,  married  to  Charles  Gratiot,  June 
25,  1781,  she  died  June  15, 1825,  at  sixty-five.  G.  had  died 
April  20,  1817,  at  sixty-five. 

4.  Pelagie,  born  1762,  married  to  Sylvester  Labbadie, 
July  27,  1776.  She  died  June  5,  1812,  at  fifty.  Labbadie 
had  died  June  19,  1794. 

5.  Marie  Louise,  born  in  1764,  married  to  Joseph  M. 
Papin,  Jan.  9,  1779.  She  died  Feb.  27,  1817  at  fifty-three 
and  Papin  had  died  Sept.  18,  1811. 

JOSEPH   MICHEL  (HIS    CORRECT    NAME)    DIT   TAILLON, 

was  born  in  Canada  in  the  year  1715.  He  came  to  St.  Louis 
1764,  and  died  there  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two 
years,  his  wife  ne'e  Marie  Louise  Bossett,  born  in  1728,  also 
died  in  St.  Louis  in  1797  aged  sixty-nine  years.  They  had 
lived  for  a  number  of  years  at  Fort  Chartres,  where  some 
of  their  oldest  children  were  born.  They  were  the  parents 
of  a  numerous  family  of  children  of  whom  the  following 
attained  maturity : — 

1.  Marie  Louise,  married  to  Jacques  Chauvin  at  Fort 
Chartres. 

2.  Marie  Josepha,  born  in  1748,  was  married  to  Paul 
Gregory  Kiersereau  May  10,  1766  (the  second  marriage 
in  St.  Louis)  at  eighteen  years,  and  died  in  1767  a  short 
year  after  marriage,  at  nineteen,  leaving  a  daughter,  Pelagie, 
who  became  the  first  wife  of  Peter  Chouteau,  Sr. 

3.  Marie  Anne,  widow  of  Etienne  Daigle,  in  1777. 

4.  Joseph,  Jr.,  married  to  Marie  Berger,  May  1,  1781. 

6.  Charles,  married  to  Cecile  Deschamps,  in  1780. 
6.  John. 


APPENDIX.  415 

7.  Francis,  to  PelagieChauvin  Charlevllle,  June  8,  1795. 

8.  Helene,  to  Louis  Chevallier,  in  1799.  He  died  June, 
1801. 

Old  Joseph  Tayon,  from  his  long  residence  in  the  place,^ 
the  respectability  of  his  family  and  connections,  became  an 
important  and  influential  man  in  the  village,  being  one  of 
the  sindics  or  overseers  of  the  place. 

His  son  Charles  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  militia,  and  the 
first  commandant  at  St.  Charles. 

NICHOLAS     BEAUGENOU,    SR., 

with  his  family,  came  over  from  Fort  Chartres,  where  they 
had  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  with  the  first  comers,  ac- 
companied by  Mrs.  Beaugenou's  two  brothers,  Charles  and 
Francis  Henrion,  both  single  men. 

Nicholas  Beaugenou,  Sr.,  born  in  Canada,  died  in  St. 
Louis,  in  1770.  Mrs.  Beaugenou,  nee  Henr'on,  born  in 
Canada,  died  in  St.  Louis  Sept.,  1769.  Their  children,  born 
in  Canada  and  Fort  (!!hartres,  were  then  all  minors  except 
the  oldest  of  them,  Nicholas,  Jr. 

1.  Nicholas  Jr.  (Fifi),  born  in  Canada  in  1741,  married 
Catherine  Gravelle  in  1775  ;  she  died  in  St.  Louis,  1795,  and 
he  in  1826,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

2.  Charles. 

3.  Maria  Josepha,  born  1748,  married  to  Toussaint 
Hunaut  in  1766,  at  eighteen  (the  first  marriage  recorded  in 
the  archives)  ;  she  died  in  1799. 

4.  Helen,  born  in  1751,  married  to  James  Brunei,  La 
Sabloniere,  in  1771,  at  twenty  years. 

5.  Therese,  first  married  to  Joachim  D'e;iu,  from  Canada, 
in  1777,  and  secondly  to  Jacques  Noise  in  1781 ;  she  died  in 
Cahokia  in  183-. 


^  The  northwest  comer  of  Main  and  Market  streets. 


416  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

6.  Agnes  Frances,  to  Joseph  Huge,  from  France,  in  1776, 
died  in  1797. 

7.  Elizabeth  to  Alexis  Loise,  1773. 

NICHOLAS    BEAUOENOU,  JR.,  CALLED  FIFI. 

Born  in  Canada,  1741,  came  with  his  father,  first  to  Fort 
Chartres  and  then  to  St.  Louis  in  1764. 

He  married  here  Catliarine  Gravelle  in  1775,  who  died  in 
1795  ;  they  raised  three  children. 

1.  Julie,  born  1775-76,  married  to  Francois  Valois,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1794,  at  eighteen. 

2.  Nicholas  (No.  3). 

3.  Vital. 

This  second  Nicholas  Beaugenou  lived  here  and  about  from 
the  origin  of  St.  Louis,  1764,  to  his  death  at  St.  Ferdinand  in 
1826,  a  period  of  over  sixty  years;  he  lived  in  various  parts  of 
the  village  and  surroundings,  was  much  on  horseback,  made 
and  traded  off  several  farms.  Fee  Fee  creelc  in  our  county, 
received  its  cognomen  from  his  juvenile  nick-name  of  Fifi. 
He  died  in  St.  Ferdinand  in  1826,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

''i 
5  FRANCIS    HENRION, 

brother  of  Mrs.  Beaugenou,  died  unmarried  in  1781,  leav- 
ing his  property  to  his  nephew  Nicholas  B.,  Jr.,  and  wife,  in 
trust  for  their  children. 

CHARLES   HENRION, 

the  oldest  brother  of  Mrs.  B.,  died  in  1783,  at  the  residence 
of  his  nephew  Fifi  Beaugenou,  on  Second  Street.  Some 
time  before  his  death  he  had  purchased  from  Louis  Barada, 
his  illegitimate  mulatto  child  Marianne,  nine  years  of  age, 
to  emancipate  her  (which,  he  did  at  once),  and  make  her 


APPENDIX.  417 

his  heir.  This  he  neglected  to  do,  and  dying  not  long  after 
without  a  will,  his  property  fell  to  his  heirs,  the  Beau- 
genous.  The  matter  was  left  to  the  decision  of  Gov. -Gen- 
eral Miro  at  New  Orleans,  who  placed  her  as  one  of  the 
heirs  with  the  seven  Beaugenous,  all  of  them  then  yet  living 
in  1787. 

ALEXIS  LOI8E,  SR., 

and   Elizal)eth  Beaugenou  were    married   in  1773.     Their, 
children:  — 

1.  Victoire,  baptized  May  8,  1774. 

2.  Alexis,  Jr.,  baptized  Nov.  14,  1776  ;  married  to  Marie 
J.  Calve. 

3.  Helene,  baptized  May  26,  1779. 

4.  Paul. 

5.  Therese,  married  to  Pierre  Vial  dit  Manitou,  Florisant. 

6.  Catherine,  married  to  Charles  Martineau. 

7.  Joseph,  married  to  Marie. 

8.  Marie  Irene,  married  to  Antoine  Senecal. 

MARCHETEAU  DIT  DENOYER. 

Among  the  first  that  came  over  from  the  east  side  to 
settle  here,  was  the  very  numerous  family  of  the  Mar- 
cheteaus,  alias  Denoyers.^ 

The  three  old  ones  of  these  Marcheteaus  were  brothers  ; 
Louis,  Sr.,  Joseph  and  Francis  originally  from  Canada,  with 
each  a  family. 

LOUIS  MARCHETEAU,  SR.'S 

first  wife  was  Francoise  Leduc,  their   children  were  two 
sons,  Basil  and  Louis,  Jr.,^  and  three  daughters,  Veronique 


'  Chouteau  wrote  them  Marcereau. 

2  This  son  Louis  (Klery)  was  married  Nov.,  1766,  to  Veronica  Faniss^, 
widow  of  John  Prunet,  alias  La  Glroflee. 

27 


418  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  first  wife  of  Louis  Ride,  then  a  married  woman  with 
several  children,  and  two  others  whose  names  are  not  given. 

His  wife  died  about  1770-71,  not  on  record.  They  were 
then  living  on  the  north  half  of  block  3,'  his  original  grant 
from  Laclede,  which  he  had  well  improved  with  two  houses, 
barn,  stable,  etc.  Being  about  to  marry  a  second  wife  an 
inventory  of  their  property  was  taken,  as  the  law  required 
on  June  23,  1772,  in  presence  of  his  son  Louis  (Kiery), 
and  his  sons-in-law.  Ride  and  the  others.  Besides  their 
homestead,  they  had  a  vacant  lot  on  the  back  street,  120 
arpents  in  the  Cul  de  Sac,  and  abandoned  lands  at  Fort 
Chartres. 

The  old  gentleman  then  married  his  second  wife  Ange- 
lique  Metivier,  the  widow  of  Dequirigoust  Filip,  July  3, 
i772.  She  had  but  one  child,  a  daughter,  and  lived  in  her 
house,  the  next  one  north  in  block  No.  4.  Louis  Marche- 
teau  died  Nov.  19,  1773,  eighteen  months  after  his  second 
marriage. 

LOUIS  RIDE,  SR., 

farmer,  who  also  came  in  the  boat  with  Chouteau  in  1764, 
was  born  in  Canada ;  his  first  wife  whom  he  married  at  Fort 
Chartres,  was  Veronica,  a  daughter  of  Louis  Marcheteau, 
Sr. ;  their  children  were  four  sons  :  — 

1.  Louis,  Jr.,  born  1762,  died  February,  1794.  Deaf 
and  dumb. 

2.  Laurent,  born  1764.  ' 

3.  Claude,  born  1766. 

4.  Francois,  born  1768. 


1  The  two  houses  and  lot  in  block  No.  3  above,  and  the  vacant  lot  on 
the  back  street,  were  sold  to  Eugene  Pour€,  by  the  son,  Louis  Marche- 
teau, Jr.  Eugene  Poure  himself  died  in  1783,  and  the  property  was 
then  purchased  by  Charles  Gratiot,  who  lived  on  it  a  number  of  years, 
and  some  of  his  first  children  were  born  in  this  house. 


APPENDIX.  4:19 

Mrs.  Veronica  Ride  died  January  2,  1773,  at  their  resi- 
dence, northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Elm,  where  Ride  had 
built  his  house  in  1765. 

(He  married  his  second  wife,  Charlotte  Hyacinthe,  the 
widow  of  Louis  Hunaud,  of  St.  Genevieve,  in  1776,  who 
had  three  sons,  Antoine,  Louis  and  Toussaint  Hunaud  who 
came  up  to  St.  Louis,  and  two  married  daughters  in  Ste. 
Genevieve.) 

This  second  Mrs.  Ride,  Sr.,  died  in  1784-5,  and 

Louis  Ride,  Sr.,  Nov.  6,  1787. 

THE   RIVIERES,   DIT   BACCANNET. 

Antoine,  Sr.,  born  in  1706  in  Canada,  married  at  Kas- 
kaskia  in  1744  at  thirty-eight  years,  and  died  at  St.  Ferdi- 
nand in  1816,  aged  one  hundred  and  ten  —  his  wife  Mary 
Barbara  Eloy,  born  in  New  Orleans  in  1726,  died  in  St. 
Louis  in  1786,  aged  sixty,  leaving  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  viz:  — 

1.  Antoine,  Jr.,  born  1745,  married  first  Adelaide  Le- 
febvre  in  1784,  and  secondly,  Charlotte  Roque  in  1795;  he 
died  in  1823  at  seventy-eight  years. 

2.  John  Bap.,  born  1752  married  to  Margaret  Vial  in  1786 
at  thirty-four. 

3.  Philip,  born  1757,  married  to  Marie  Pinot  in  1784, 
his  first  wife,  at  twenty-seven,  and  Marie  Leberge,  his 
second  wife  in  1802;  he  died  in  1812  at  fifty-five. 

4.  Pelagie,  married  to  Auguste  Dodier  in  1787. 

5.  Marie  Jeanne,  married  to  Louis  Hunaud  in  1782  first, 
and  secondly  to  Jno.  B.  Greza  dit  Capitaine  in  1802. 

6.  Francois,  born  1772,  was  living  in  July,  1820. 

7.  Julia,  born  1775. 

Old  Antoine  Riviere  drove  the  cart  in  which  Laclede 
brought  up  his  family  from  Fort  Chartres  to  Cahokia  in 


420  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

1764,  and  then  brought  up  his  own  fumily  to  St.  Louis  in 
1765. 

He  was  eighty  years  of  age  when  his  wife  died  in  1786, 
and  survived  her  thirty  years,  dying  at  the  house  of  his 
son,  John  B.,  in  the  viUago  of  St.  Ferdinand,  at  the  age  ot 
one  hundred  and  ten  years. 

His  will :  — 

♦'In  the  year  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  De- 
cember second,  I,  Antoine  Riviere,  Sr.,  under  my  ordi- 
nary mark,  in  presence  of  Francis  Cottard,  Louis  Cottin 
and  Louis  Ouvre,  give  and  bequeath  after  my  death  and 
my  debts  paid,  all  that  may  belong  to  me  at  present  and 
since  the  death  of  my  wife.  I  make  this  gift  to  Margaret 
Vial,  my  son  John  Baptiste  Riviere's  wife,  for  the  care  she 
took  of  me  in  the  sicknesses  I  had,  and  also  for  the  care  and 
trouble  she  had  while  in  health. 

I  make  this  gift  to  the  above  named  while  in  health 
and  full  knowledge,  by  the  above  named  witnesses. 

Done  at  St.  Ferdinand  the  day  and  year  above. 

his 

Antoine  x  Riviere,  Sr. 

mark 
'«  Cottard,  C.  Cottin, 

his 
♦«  Louis  x  Ouvre,  Witnesses.'* 
mark. 

He  was  in  its  strictest  sense  the  patriarch  of  our  early 
settlers,  one  of  the  first  to  come  here,  and  living  to  attain 
the  greatest  age. 

JOSEPH   MAINVILLE,  DIT    DESCHENE8, 

a  carpenter,  came  in  the  first  boat  with  Chouteau  ;  he  was 
born  in  Canada.  He  was  an  active  business  man  and  prom- 
inent in  the  aflTairs  of  the  village,  being  for  a  number  of  years 


APPENDIX.  421 

one  of  the  sindica.  He  married  Anne  ChancoUier,  sister  of 
Joseph  and  Louis  Chancellier,  February  9,  1770.  They 
lived  for  many  years  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Locust  Streets,  where  his  wife  died  in  August,  1787,  at  the 
age  of  fifty,  and  Mainville  in  April,  1795,  leaving  seven 
children  :  — 

1.  Theresa,  married  to  Joseph  Desautelle  in  1787,  and 
to  Louis  Lemoude  in  1797. 

2.  Helen,  married  to  Pierre  Gagnon  in  1789,  to  P.  D. 
Joliboix  in  1801,  and  to  Charles  Cardinal  in  1813. 

3.  Julie,  married  to  Joseph  Hubert  in  1794. 

4.  Pelagie,  married  to  Joseph  Lagrave,  1795. 

5.  Marie  Anne,  married  to  Auguste  Filteau  in  1797, 
And  two  sous  Joseph,  Jr.,  and  Charles  Mainville. 


JOSEPH    CHANCELLIER. 

The  two  Chancelliers,  Joseph  and  Louis,  brothers  of 
Mrs.  Mainville,  were  born  in  the  little  village  of  Ste.  Phil- 
lippe,  and  came  also  in  the  same  boat  with  Chouteau  and 
Mainville  from  Fort  Chartres ;  they  were  young  lads,  the 
oldest,  Joseph,  but  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  married  in 
June,  1772,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  Elizabeth  Becquet, 
daughter  of  Jno.  B.  Becquet,  the  miller,  aged  nineteen,  and 
died  in  1784,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four,  leaving  three  little 
girls,  the  oldest  eleven  years  of  age. 

His  widow  married  Antoine  Gauthier  of  St.  Charles  in 
February,  1786. 

LOUIS    CHANCELLIER.  I 

Louis  Chancellier  married  Marie  Louist  Deschamps  in 
September,  1782;  he  was  then  thirty,  livii  g  in  his  stone 
house  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Vine  Streets. 
He  died  in  June,  1785,  six  months  after  the  death  of  his 


422  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

brother,  Jleaving  an  infant  son.  His  widow  following  the 
example  set  her  by  her  sister-in-law,  married  her  second  hus- 
band, Joseph  Beauchanip,  also  of  St.  Charles. 

JNO.  B.  OAMACIIE, 

farmer,  one  of  the  thirty  that  came  on  the  first  boat  with 
Chouteau  in  1764,  was  born  near  Quebec,  Canada,  in  1733. 

Hefmarried  Charlotte  D'Amours,  May  3,  1767,  he  then 
being  thirty-four  years  of  age  and  she  twenty-one. 

He  built  his  house  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and 
Pine  Streets,  where  he  lived  some  eighteen  years,  until  the 
death  [of  his  wife,  August  23,  1781,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five,  after  which  he  sold  his  house  and  removed  to  Caron- 
delet  where  he  died  in  1805,  aged  seventy-two  years.  Their 
children  were :  — 

1.  Jno.  Batiste,  born  in  1768,  married  Catherine  Con- 
stant. 

2.  Auguste,  born  in  1774,  married  Genevieve  Courtois. 

3.  Marie  Therfse,  born  in  1776. 

4.  Louis,  born  in  1778,  and  several  others  died  young. 

LOUIS    TESSON    HONORE,  8R., 

tailor,  was  born  in  Canada  in  the  year  1734,  and  died  in  St. 
Louis  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 

Magdalena  Peterson,  his  wife,  was  born  in  1739,  and  died 
here  in  1812,  also  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  They  came 
here  from  Kaskaskia.     Their  children  were  — 

1.  Louis  Tesson  Honore,  Jr.,  who  married,  first,  Marie 
Duchouquette  in  the  year  1782  in  St.  Louis,  who  died  in 
1784;  and  secondly,  Therese  Creely  in  1788,  who  died  in 
1821. 

2.  Francis  T.  H.,  who  married  Susan  Liberge  in  1787. 

3.  Marie  Euphrosine  to  Louis  Baudoin  in  1789. 


APPENDIX.  423 

4.  Elizabeth  T.  H.  to  Antoinc  Baradii,  Jr.,  in  1796. 

5.  Michael  T.  H.  to  Genevieve  Monaid  in  179G,  who 
died  in  1807,  and  then  to  Maria  Glenn  in  Carondolot  in 
1812-13. 

6.  Victoire  T.  H.  to  George  Schultz  in  1797. 

7.  Jno.  B.  T.  H.  to  Mary  Holly  in  1802. 

8.  Noel  T.  II.  to  Mary  Sipp  in  1802. 

Louis  Tosson  Honorc  No.  3  was  the  son  of  Louis  T. 
Honore  No.  2,  and  his  second  wife  Thereae  Creely.  He 
was  born  about  1790  in  St.  Louis. 

In  1812,  with  Jno.  B.  D.  Belconr,  they  purchased  the 
southwast  quarter  of  block  No.  27,  which  was  the  north- 
east corner  of  Second  and  Washington  Avenue ;  this  they 
divided,  Honore  getting  the  south  portion  at  the  corner. 
He  lived  here  for  fifteen  years,  until  his  death,  August  20, 
1827.  His  wife  was  Aramanthe,  one  of  the  daughters  of 
Jno.  B.  Dumoulin,  the  old  stone  mason,  for  many  years  at 
the  southwest  corner  of  Chestnut  and  Second. 

His  will  was  very  brief,  in  sul)stance  as  follows,  viz. :  — 

"  I,  Louis  Tesson  Honore,  in  very  feeble  health,  although 
sound  in  mind  and  understanding,  I  leave  to  my  wife, 
Amaranthe  Honorc,  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  our  only 
child,  all  my  worldly  goods,  house,  furniture,  clothing, 
beds  and  bedding,  money,  etc.,  St.  Louis,  Aug.  20,  1827." 

His  widow  afterwards  married  for  a  second  husband 
Louis  Leduc. 

GREGORY   KIERSEREAU,  8R., 

was  born  at  Port  Louis,  Brittany,  France, .     He  was 

married  about  the  year  1720  to  Gilette  Lebourg,  a  widow 
Pothier.  They  were  at  Cahokia  in  1740,  and  he  died 
before  1770,  the  widow  then  living.  Their  children  were 
three  — 

1.  Rene  H.,  dit  Renaud,  born  in  France  in  1723,  was 
married  to   Marie   M.  Robillard,  who   died  in   St.  Louis 


424  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Docombor  15,  1783,  and  he  at  8t.  Ferdinand  in  1798,  aged 
seventy-five  years.  In  tlio  oarl}  years  of  St.  Louia  ho  was 
the  chanter  or  chorister  at  the  churcii,  and  in  the  absence 
of  the  curate  frequently  oiHciatod  at  interments.  Their 
children  wore  — 

1.  Gregory,  Jr.,  born  at  Fort  Chortres  1752,  married 
Magdalen  St.  Francois  1774. 

2.  Robalind,  married  Francois  Faustin,  dit  Parent,  17bl. 
8.  Marie  Josephine,  married  to  Pierre  Choret,  1786. 

4.  Julie,  married  to  Gabriel  Latroillo,  1800. 

6.  Marguerite,  married  to  Louis  Aubuchon,  1804. 

2.  Paul  Kiersereau,  born  in  Now  Orleans,  married  Marie 
Josepha  Midhol  Tayon  May  10,  1706,  the  second  marriage 
in  St.  Louis.  Their  only  child,  Polagio,  born  in  1767, 
married  Pierre  Chouteau,  Sr.,  in  1783.  She  died  in  1793, 
aged  twenty-six  years,  leaving  four  children:  Aug.  P., 
Pierre,  Jr.,  and  Paul  L.  Chouteau,  three  sons  ;  and  Pelagic, 
one  daughter,  afterwards  Mrs.  B.  Berthold. 

3.  Marie,  born  in  1735,  married  to  Antoine  Deshetres  in 
1788.  Deshetres  died  in  1798,  aged  sixty  years,  and  she 
in  1815,  aged  eighty.  ,' 

Gregory  Kiersoroau,  Jr.,  aged  twenty-two,  and  Madelaine 
St.  Francois,  aged  eighteen,  daughter  of  Antoino  St.  Fran- 
cois and  Carlotta  Larcho,  were  married  August  26,  1774. 
Their  children  — 

1.  Gregory,  No.  3,  married  to  Caroline  Dodier  1801. 

2.  Adrienne,  married  to  Joseph  Beauchamp  1837. 

3.  Louis  Gregory,  married  to  Catherine  Tayon  1833. 

4.  Catherine,  married  to  Francis  Tayon  1820. 

.    5.  Marie  Louise,  married  to  Pierre  Tayon  1823. 
6.  Marie  Louise,  married  to  Ignace  Tayon  1833. 

JULIEN  LEROY, 

was  also  one  of  those  who  came  in  the  first  boat  in  1764, 
with  Aug.  Chouteau,  he  and  his  wife  nee  Marie  Barbara 


AFPKNDIX.  425 

Saucier  were  married  in  Mobile,  Alahuma,  in  the  year 
1755,  and  thoir  Hrttt  ciiild,  CliarluH,  was  i)urn  in  that  place. 

1.  Charles,  born  in  Mobile,  175(>,  married  Susaune 
Dodier  1779  at  twenty-three. 

2.  Madelaine,  Fort  Chartres,  1758,  to  Francis  Hubert, 
1774,  at  sixteen. 

3.  Julien,  Jr.,  Fort  Chartres,  17(50,  to  Marie  Louise 
Cotte,  in  1784.  She  died  in  1793,  and  ho  married  the 
widow  of  Pierre  A.  Marie  in   1797. 

4.  Pierre  Patrick,  St.  Louis,  married  to   Victoire  Stark. 

5.  Henri  Francois,  St.  Louis,  1767,  married  to  Jeanne 
Montardy,  1793. 

6.  Louis,  St.  Louis,  1773. 

7.  Etienne,  St.  Louis,  1776. 

Julien  Lelloy  was  a  well  informed,  enterprising  man,  and 
a  useful  citizen,  having  built  several  houses  in  the  village, 
by  obtaining  a  lot,  building  on  it,  and  then  selling  it  to  some 
one  who  needed  a  house  at  once.  Several  of  his  sons  re- 
moved to  Carondelot  whore  their  posterity  still  reside,  hav- 
ing dropped  the  '*  Lo  "  from  their  name  and  calling  them- 
selves simply  '*  Roy." 

As  the  death  of  LeRoy  is  not  on  the  church  I'ogister,  he 
perhaps  died  elsewhere. 

THE   MARTIQNY    BROTHERS,    JNO.  B.  AND    JOS.  L., 

were  also  of  those  who  came  in  the  first  boat  with  Chouteau, 
1764. 

Jno.  Bap.  Martigny,  born  in  1712,  at  Varenne,  Quebec, 
Canada,  married  to  Helene  Hebert  at  Fort  Chartres.  She 
was  born  in  1732  at  Fort  Chartres,  was  sister  of  Ignace  and 
Joseph  Hebert,  Sr. 

J.  B.  Martigny  was  a  prominent  and  well  to  do  man,  he 
built,  in  1768,  the  stone  house  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Main  and  Walnut,  which  in  after  years  became  noted  in  the 


426  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

early  history  of  the  viUage  and  town  as  appears  in  another 
article.  He  was  for  a  long  time  captain  of  the  militia  of 
the  village,  died  September  22, 1792,  aged  eighty,  and  Mrs. 
M.,  February  25, 1802,  at  seventy,  having  no  children,  they 
left  their  property  to  Mrs.  M.'s  niece,  Helene  Hebert,  the 
wife  of  Hyacinthe  St.  Cir. 

Joseph  Lemoine  Martigny  built  his  house  of  posts  in 
17B5-6,  on  the  west  side  of  Main,  between  Plum  and  Cedar, 
where  he  lived  about  a  year,  and  then  sold  it  to  Nicholas 
Royer,  dit  Sansquartier,  a  soldier.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
Indian  trade  as  late  as  July  3,  1789,  when  his  name  is  last 
found  in  the  archives. 

JEAN    SALLE,  DIT    LAJOIE, 

was  born  in  Saintes,  Saintous,  France,  about  the  year 
1741.  He  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1764  in  the  boat  with 
Chouteau  from  Fort  Chartres,  and  was  married  to  Marie 
Rose  Vidalpano,  born  in  Taos,  New  Mexico,  July  3  1770, 
by  Father  Valentin,  curate  of  the  parish  of  St.  Loi  is. 

Their  daughter,  Helen  Salle  Lajoie,  was  married  to  Ben- 
jamin Leroii,  merchant,  January  17,  1792  vv^hose  children 
were  one  son,  Wutkius  Lerou,  and  two  daughters,  Marie 
Angelique,  who  was  married  to  Peter  Primm,  from  Virginia, 
on  January  18,  1809,  and 

Helene  Lerou,  who  married  Capt.  Jas.  Lafferty,  in  1827, 
Aug.  27. 

The  old  lady,  Marie  Rose  V.  Salle,  died  on  July  27,  1830, 
at  the  house  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Lerou,  on  Elm  Street, 
between  Fourth  and  Fifth,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one 
one  hundred  and  seven  years,  and  Mrs.  Lerou  in  1854  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one. 

OLD  JOSEPH  MABCHETEAU  DENOYER, 

the  second  brother,  a  cabinet  maker,  had  been  twice  mar- 
ried before  coming  over  to  St.  Louis,  and  three  married 


APPENDIX.  427 

(laughters  with  their  husbands  and  children  came  over  with 
him,  viz. :  — 

1.  Marie  Jeanne  and  husband,  Charles  Routier,  stone 
mason,  daughter  of  his  first  wife,  Madeline  Robert. 

2.  Elizabeth,  and  husband,  Jno.  B.  Becquet,  a  miller, 
and  — 

3.  Catherine  and  husband,  Francis  Bissonet,  farmer, 
were  daughters  by  his  second  wife,  Elizabeth  Leduc,  a  sister 
of  the  first  wife  of  his  elder  brother,  Louis,  Sr. 

CHARLES    ROUTIER, 

stone  mason,  born  in  1703,  married  on  the  other  side,  died 
in  St.  Louis  March  10,  1777,  at  northeast  corner  of  Main 
and  Pine,  aged  seventy-four,  and  his  widow  February  20, 
1800,  aged  seventy-two. 

JXO.    B.    BECQUET, 

miller,  born  1723,  married  also  at  Fort  Chartres,  removed 
to  Ste.  Genevieve. 

FRANCIS    BISSONNET, 

farmer,  born  in  1741,  married  in  1772  at  Kaskaskia,  died 
at  St.  Louis  January  1,  1787,  aged  forty-six. 

LOUIS    BISSONNET, 

an  older  brother  of  Francis  B.,  born  in  1731,  married 
Genevieve  Routier,  only  child  of  Chas.  Routier  above,  April 
30,  1771  ;   he  forty;  she  twenty-two. 

He  died  April  20,  1786,  a2;ed  fifty-five,  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Pine,  and  his  widow  in  May,  1804,  also  aged  fifty- 
five  years,  leaving  seven  children,  Louis,  thirty-five  ;  Charles, 
thirty-three;     Joseph,    thirty-one;    Pascal,     twenty-nine. 


428  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Angelica  Ladouceur  had  died,  Pelagie,  wife  of  Paul  Priiuo, 
and  Helene,  wife  of  Henry  Delaurier. 

Her  will  is  dated  May  24,  1804,  by  Capt.  Stoddard. 

She  died  northwest  corner  Main  and  Olive. 


OLD  TRANCIS  MARCHETEAU,  DENOYER, 

the  third  brother,  a  carpenter,  came  over  with  his  two 
brothers  in  1765,  and  built  himself  a  small  house.  We 
have  but  few  particulars  of  this  Marcheteau. 

His  wife  was  Marie  Josepha  Noiselle. 

A  son,  Joseph  Marcheteau,  Jr.,  married,  in  1779,  Ursula 
Cardinal. 

A  daughter,  Marie  Josette,  was  married  to  John  B.  Du- 
rand  in  1768.  She  died  in  1769-70,  leaving  an  infant 
daughter,  Theotiste,  and  Jno.  B.  Duraud  died  in  1773  at 
the  age  of  thirty-one. 

When  this  child  grew  up  to  be  a  young  woman  she  was 
married  in  1783  to  Emilien  Yosti,  an  Italian  from  Novarra, 
in  Piedmont.  He  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  man  in 
our  place,  and  died  in  his  house,  southwest  corner  of  Main 
and  Locust,  in  1818,  aged  seventy-eight  years,  and  his 
widow  six  years  thereafter  in  1824,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years. 

They  raised  to  maturity  five  children. 

1.  Pelagie,  married  to  Alfred  Crutsinger,  from  Virginia, 
in  1809. 

2.  Marie,  married  to  John  C.  Potter  in  1816. 

3.  Joseph,  born  in  1791,  died  single  in  1820,  at  twenty- 
nine  years. 

4.  Louis,  born  1796,  died  on  his  farm,  St.  Louis  County 
in  1853  at  fifty-seven. 

5.  Francis,  born  1798,  died  at  St.  Charles,  August  19, 
1879,  aged  eighty-one. 


APPENDIX.  429 


NICHOLAS    MARECHAL,    SR., 

a  native  of  Verdun,  France,  had  beta  a  soldier  in  the 
Freneii  service  and  married  his  wife,  Mario  Jeanne  Isleret, 
a  half-breed  Indian,  at  Fort  Chartres,  previous  to  1753. 
They  came  over  to  St  Louis  in  1765,  with  a  family  of  eight 
children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters  and  received  from 
Laclede  a  verbal  grant  of  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and 
Chestnut,  upon  which  he  built  a  house,  etc.  Here  he  died 
in  Septenber,  1770.     Their  children  were:  — 

1.  Marie,  married   to  Joseph   Calve,   Sr.     She  died  in 
1791,  and  Calve  in  1792. 

2.  Francis,  who  married  Marie  Therese  Riviere,  in  1770. 

3.  Catherine,  to  Joseph  Francis  Moreau,  in  1767. 

4.  Marie  Elizabeth,  to   Antoine   Martin  Ladouceur,   in 
1774,  and  after  his  death,  to  Jno.  B.  Priineau,  in  1791. 

5.  Jacques,  married  Genevieve  Cardinal,  widow  of  J.  B. 
Vifvarenne. 

6.  Antoine,  to  Catherine  Tabeau,  1777. 

7.  Joseph. 

8.  Nicholas,  Jr. 

GABRIEL    DODIER,  SR., 

was  a  blacksmith  at  Fort  Chartres,  where  he  had  been  es- 
tablished for  some  years,  his  wife  was  Marie  Francoise 
Millet.  He  hud  been  industrious  and  prosperous  and  had 
accumulated  quite  a  handsome  property  for  the  times. 

He  died  over  there  August  1,  1763,  leaving  five  children, 
one  son  and  four  daughters,  viz. :  — 

1.  Gabriel,  Jr.,  born  in   1740,  was  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  and  had  been  married  to  Miss  Becquet  about  a  year. 

2.  Marie  Francoise,  married  to  Jno.  B.  Becquet  about  a 
year.  , 

3.  Jeanne. 


430  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

4.  Elizabeth. 

5.  Marie  Therese,  three  daughters,  all  minors. 

An  inventory  of  his  estate  was  taken  on  August  4,  1763, 
by  John  V.  Bobe,  Desclausau,  orderer  and  judge  of  Illinois, 
consisting  in  his  house  and  lot,  slaves,  shop  and  tools,  money, 
furniture,  horses  and  cattle,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of  29,214 
livres ;  deducting  expenses,  debts,  etc.,  2,104  livres,  the 
estate  netted  27,110  livres;  the  widow's  half  13,555  livres 
and  the  five  children  13,555  livres. 

The  family  came  to  this  side  in  1765,  comprising  the 
widow  of  Gabriel,  Sr.,  she  died  February  10,  1783,  aged 
I'.bout  sixty. 

1.  Gabriel  Dodier,  Jr.,  who  died  in  1805,  aged  sixty- 
five  years. 

2.  Marie  Francoise  Becquetj^died  in  1785,  age  1  forty- 
one  years. 

3.  Jeanne. 

4.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Alexis  Cotte. 

5.  Marie  Therese,  wife  of  Simon  Coussot,  died  in  1782, 
at  twenty-five. 

JOHN   BATISTE  ^    BECQUET. 

There  were  two  of  this  name  that  came  over  with  the  first 
crowd  in  1765.  One  was  Jno.  B.  B.,  the  blacksmith,  whose 
wife  was  Francoise  Dodier,  and  who  received  a  verbal  grant 
from  Laclede,  of  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Myrtle, 
upon  which  he  built  his  house  and  shop,  and  where  he  lived 
during  the  whole  of  his  residence  in  St.  Louis,  of  thirty-two 
years,  from  1765,  dying  in  it  October  21,  1797,  aged 
seventy-four  years.  His  wife  had  died  there  twelve  years 
previously,  April  19,  1785. 

The  other,  Jno.  B.  B.,  was  a  miller,  whose  wife  was 


^  The  John  Batistes  were  very  numerous  here  In  those  early  days,  al- 
most every  family  of  several  sons,  having  one  la  the  number. 


APPENDIX.  431 

Elizabeth,  a  daufrhter  of  Joseph  Marchetiui,  dit  Desnoyer. 
This  Becquet  had  built  a  small  house,  likewise  on  a  verbal 
grant  from  Laclede,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  and 
Olive,  where  he  lived  until  1772,  when  he  exchanged  it  with 
Pierre  Gagnon  for  the  southeast  quarter  of  block  No.  26, 
corner  of  Main  and  Green  ;  here  he  lived  until  1776-77, 
when  he  removed  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  selling  it  to  Jno.  M. 
Cardinal,  who  was  occupying  it  when  killed  by  Indians  in 
1780. 

THE    HEBERTS. 

Helene  Danis,  widow  of  Ignacc  Hebert,  Sr.,  received  a 
concession  of  the  south  half  of  Block  No.  38,  from  Gov.  St. 
Ange,  July  18,  1769.  She,  or  her  husband  Hebert  (as 
there  is  no  record  of  the  date  of  his  death  or  where  he  died), 
had  built  on  this  lot  in  1765  with  the  then  usual  verbal  per- 
mission of  Laclede,  and  had  occupied  it  about  twenty  years 
at  the  date  of  her  death,  November  28,  1784. 

Inventory  and  sale  of  her  eflfects  in  January,  1785,  by 
Chas  Sanguinet,  executor,  and  partition  between  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  seven  heirs  in  July  1786,  as  follows :  — 

1.  Ignace  Hebert,  Jr.,  born  1730,  then  dead,  with  three 
heirs. 

2.  Helene  Hebert,  wife  of  Jno.  B.  Martigny,  1732,  then 
fifty-four  years  of  age . 

3.  Joseph  Hebert. 

4.  Auguste  Hebert. 

5.  Pelagie  Carpentier,a  grand-child,  parents  deceased. 

6.  Francois  Hebert,  born  1750,  killed  by  Indians  in 
1780,  his  widow  living. 

7.  Marie  Hebert  Berger,  deceased,  with  a  son,  Pierre, 
grand-child.  These  were  all  born  in  Illinois,  and  lived 
there,  the  only  two  of  them  who  came  over  to  this  place 
were  Mrs.  Martigny,  and  Francois,  deceased. 


432  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


.T08EPH    HEBERT,  SR., 

born  at  Fort  Chartrcs  in  1741,  came  over  in  17G5. 

Hg  (lied  in  St.  Louis  January  28,  1801,  aged  sixty  years. 
His  wife,  Agnea  Michel  Pliilipe,  born  in  1744,  died  March 
21,  1814,  at  seventy;  their  children,  all  l)orn  in  St.  Louis, 
were, — 

1.  Helene,  born  1767,  May. 

2.  Joseph,  Jr.,  September,  1771,  married  to  Victoire  A. 
Hortiz,  May  2,  1801 :  he  twenty-six,  she  sixteen. 

3.  Constance,  1774,  July. 

4.  Marie,  October,  1776. 

AMABLS  UUION,  JR., 

the  only  son  of  Amable  Guion,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Margaret 
Blondeau,  born  at  Fort  Chartres  in  1763,  came  over  with 
his  parents  in  1705. 

He  was  married  in  1783,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  to 
Irene  Felicite  Robert,  and  settled  in  Carondelet. 

Their  children  were:  — 

1.  Clara  Margaret,  born  1787,  married  to  Antoine 
Dangen,  from  Marseilles,  France,  July  22,  1807.  Dangen 
died  April  12,  1827,  and  Mrs.  D.  July  8th,  less  than  three 
months  after  her  husband  leaving  several  children. 

2.  Hubert,  1789,  married  Josephine  Didier  from  Be- 
^ancon,  France,  May  7,  1811;  he  died  at  Jefferson  Bar- 
racks, May  23, 1833,  aged  44. 

3.  Vincent,  1791,  married    Eulalie  Derouin,   1813,  who 
died  January  5,  1817  ;  and  secondly,  Genevieve  Bouvet. 

4.  Louis,  1793,  to  Clarissa  Delisle,  1818,  and  Cath- 
erine Mackay,  1832. 

5.  Joseph,  1797,  to  Monica  Boudon,  1818,  and  Theodo- 
sia  Chouquet,  1836. 


APPENDIX.  i:\:\ 

fi.   Irene  Foliuito,   1800,  to  Richard  Milligen,  1822,  and 
then  to  Jno.  B.  Dclislc. 

7.  Bartholomew,  1803,  to  Mar<rarct  Barada,  1828. 

8.  Antoinc,  1807,  to  Adelaide  Deh)r,  1830. 

Amal)le  Guion,  Jr.,  above,  died  in  Carondolot,  Sept.  18, 
1813,  aged  50  vears. 

JOHN  M.   PEPIN,  DIT  LACHANSE, 

a  stone  mason,  came  from  Queljec,  Canada,  in  17(}5, 
bringing  with  liim  a  sister,  Marie  Ciiristine,  then  a  young 
woman  of  eighteen.  In  January,  1774,  she  was  married  to 
Charles  Bissette,  a  young  man  of  her  own  age,  they  l)eing 
respectively  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  Bissette  was  killed 
by  the  Indians,  May  26,  1780,  and  on  Sept.  1,  1781,  the 
widow  married  Jno.  B.  Provencher,  a  wheelwright,  living 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Second  and  Pine  Streets,  where 
he  had  built  his  house  on  the  lot  granted  him  l)y  Laclede 
in  1765.  In  this  house  Provencher  died  early  in  the  year 
1810,  having  lived  in  it  the  whole  of  his  fifty-one  years  he 
passed  in  St.  Louis.  His  widow  survived  him  but  three 
years  dying  January  22,  1819,  aged  seventy-two. 
They  left  an  only  son,  Jno.  Louis  Provencher,  a  mar- 
ried daughter,  Margaret  Provencher  Tournat,  having  pre- 
viously died.  Pepin  Lachanse  lived  here  some  20  years, 
a  single  man,  and  l)uilt  a  nuiul)er  of  the  early  stone  houses. 
Having  married  a  Catherine  Lalumandiero  of  Ste.  Gene- 
vieve, he  removed  to  that  place  al)out  1787. 

PIERUE    ALEXIS    MARIE, 

with  wife,  Reine  Gilgaud,  and  little  son  came  over  from  the 
other  side  in  1765  ;  he  was  an  enterprising  business  man, 
built  several  houses  in  the  village  on  lots  granted  him  at 
various   times,  and  died  January  10,  1797,  in  good  circum- 

28 


43i  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

stances,  in  his  house  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Market  Streets. 

After  his  death  his  widow  and  only  cliild,  Michel  Alexia 
Marie,  then  a  married  man  with  a  family  of  several  chil- 
dren, sold  the  property  to  Bernard  Pratte,  Sr.,  the  father  of 
our  present  Bernard  Pratte,  in  whose  family  the  property 
is  still  held. 

The  widow  Marie  subsequently  married  a  second  hus- 
band, Julien  Leroy,  Jr.,  and  the  son  M.  A.  Marie,  removed 
with  his  family  to  Carondelet,  where  he  died. 

I 

LOUI8    C.    DUBKEUIL, 

a  prominent  and  influential  merchant  for  thirty  years  in  our 
early  village,  died  on  July  16,  1794,  leaving  nine  children, 
all  at  the  time  minora. 

1.  Joseph  C.  Dubreuil,  born  Jul}'  19,  1773,  died  June  7, 
1775,  at  two  years 

2.  Marie  Adelaide,  born  January  4,  1775,  died,  single, 
Nov.  (),  1800,  at  twenty-five, 

3.  Marie  Felicite,  born  March  19,  177G;  married  to 
James  Ceran  De  St.  Vraiii,  from  France,  April  30, 
1796. 

4.  Antoine,  born  Oct.  16,  1778  ;  went  a  young  man  to 
St.  Genevieve,  married  and  lived  there  a  number  of  years, 
and  about  1826  returned  to  St.  Louis  with  his  family,  sev- 
eral grown  daughters.  He  died  about  1840,  leaving  several 
married  daughters. 

5.  Susanne,  born  in  1780,  married  to  Louis  Tarteron  De 
Lebeaume,  from  France,  June  8,  1797. 

6.  Celeste,  born  in  1782  ;  was  married  to  Chas.  Aug't 
Frenion  Delaurier,  from  France,  May  21,  1799. 

7.  Louis  C,  born  about  1785  ;  went  south  a  young  man, 
and  settled  in  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  where  he  married 
and  lived  for  several  years;  after  his  death  his  two  sons. 


APPENDIX.  435 

Louis  and  Chiirles,  came  up  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where 
they  iMirfied  and  died,  leaving  each  a  family. 

8.  Eleonore,  born  178- ;  was  married  to  William  Tharp, 
of  St.  Louis  County,  about  the  year  1810.  They  had  four 
children  :  — 

Caroline,  who  was  married  to  Hezekiah  C.  Simmons,  June 
17,  1829. 

Clarisse,  to  Jno.  R.  Shaw,  St.  Genevieve. 
And  two  sons,  Thomas  and  James. 

9.  Clarissa,  born  in  1790 ;  married  first  to  Edward 
Hempstead,  from  Connecticut,  on  January  13,  1808 ;  he 
was  our  first  deleijate  in  Congress,  and  died  Aug.  9,  1817, 
having  lost  their  children  ;  and  secondly  to  Louis  Detheirs, 
from  Liege  in  Belgium,  in  1818-19.  She  died  July  7,  1825, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  leaving  some  young  children 
by  her  second  husl)and. 

10.  Constance,  born  1793,  to  Paul  Liguest  Chouteau, 
son  of  Peter  Chouteau,  Sr.,  Feb.  11,  1813,  his  first  wife. 
She  died  January  3, 1824,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  leaving  three 
boys,  Edward,  August  and  Liguest. 

11.  Caroline,  a  posthumous  child,  born  April  6,  1795, 
died  in  Octol)er  same  year,  1795,  aged  (5  months. 

Mrs.  Louis  C.  Dubreuil  survived  her  husband  over  thirty- 
one  years,  living  t*)  see  all  her  children,  minors  at  the  death 
of  their  father,  grown  to  maturity  and  all  married  but  one, 
her  first  daughter,  Adelaide,  who  died  single  at  twenty-five 
vears. 

V 

She  died  Oct.  25,  1825,  having  attained  her  seventieth 
year, 

PIERRE    FRANCIS    DE    VOLSAV, 

knight  of  the  Royal  Order  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  captain  in 
he  French  service,  was  born  in  or  near  Paris  about  the  year 
1730. 
He  married  Elizabeth    Coulon  De  Villiers,  daughter  o 


430  ANNALS  OF  ST,  LOUIS. 

Noyon  Do  Villiors,  tho  lust  Fri'iieli  fjovenior  on  the  Illinois 
side,  ut  Fort  Cli:»rtros,  in  the  yeiir  1758,  and  at  tlio  date  of 
tho  transfer  of  that  side  to  Knfrlsmd  in  17()5,  was  the  French 
commandant  at  Cahokia  and  crossed  to  this  side  at  the 
time  St.  Ange  came  over,  and  for  some  years  was  captain 
of  the  French  company  at  St.  Lonis. 

In  tho  year  1772,  his  wife,  under  tho  pretext  of  visiting 
her  father,  in  New  Orleans,  went  only  as  far  as  St.  Gene- 
vieve, where  she  remained  about  nine  months,  leading  u 
dissolute  life,  whii'h  so  scandalized  tho  good  people  of  St. 
Genevieve,  that  Mr.  Carpentier,  a  prominent  man  in  tho 
place,  brought  her  up  to  St.  Louis,  where  Do  Volsay  for  a 
long  time  refused  to  receive  her.  Finally  through  the  per- 
suasions of  Governor  and  Madame  Piernas,  and  Father 
Valentin,  the  Catholic  curate  of  tho  [)lace,  a  reconciliation 
was  etlccted,  and  ho  consented  to  take  her  back,  l)ein<r  a 
kind-hearted  man.  For  a  time  she  conducted  herself  in  a 
proper  manner.  In  1774,  Do  Volsay  had  a  furlough  and  went 
to  France.  Ho  was  absent  al)out  two  years  on  business 
matters,  leaving  her  in  his  house  on  Main  Street,  the  only 
one  on  ihe  block,  well  provided  with  everything  in  abun- 
dance sufficient  for  tho  time  of  his  contemplated  absence. 
He  had  been  jjone  but  a  short  time  when  she  broke  out  u^rain 
in  her  evil  course,  receiving  at  her  house  daily  and  nightly 
the  visits  of  one  Renaud,  to  the  disgust  and  scandal  of  all 
her  near  neighbors,  and  in  a  short  time  ran  through  all  that 
her  husband  had  provided  her  with,  through  her  dissipation 
and  del)auchery,  and  finally,  previous  to  Do  Volsay 's  return 
in  1776,  the  guilty  parties  tied  to  tho  Illinois  side,  carrying 
oflf  with  them  what  little  was  left  of  the  ample  provision 
Do  Volsay  had  left  her,  leaving  nothing  more  than  the 
vacant  house. 

So  soon  as  Do  Volsay  had  returned  from  France,  he  com- 
menced proceedings  before  Governor  Cruzat,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Do  Piernas  as   governor,  for  a  dissolution    of    his 


APPENDIX.  437 

inarriago  ties,  which  wore  only  terminated  under  the 
administration  of  Governor  Do  L(iyba,  Au;;iist  21,  17/9. 
This  Kior.soroau,  dit  llonaud,  had  come  over  to  this  .side 
from  Fort  Cliartros  in  17t)5.  This  Mrs,  Do  Volsay  was  a 
nieco  of  Governor  St.  Anjje,  her  motlior  beinj;  his  sister. 
Picote  do  lielestre  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  roguhir  French 
service,  and  a  brotlier-in-law  of  Do  Volsay,  their  wives 
being  sisters. 

Do  Volsay  was  a  hard  drinker  in  his  latter  years.  He 
died  on  Soptoml)or  28,  1795,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five. 
Nothing  more  is  said  of  his  wife,  but  it  appears  ho  remem- 
bered her  in  his  will  by  leaving  her  throe  coats,  an  embroid- 
ered waistcoat,  and  five  pairs  of  brooches. 

DUCHOUQUETTE  AND  LAMV. 

Francois  Latleur  Duchonquotte,  a  trader  of  Now  Chartres, 
Illinois,  and  Celosto  Barrois,  who  was  born  in  Montreal  iu 
1737,  wore  married  in  Kaskaskia  in  1757,  whore  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  for  a  number  of  years,  and  whore  thoir 
children  wore  born. 

1.  John  bapList ,  about  1760,  who  married  Mary  Brazoau, 
daughter  of  Louis  Brazoau,  Sr.,  in  St.  Louisin  1798.  She 
died  in  July,  1818,  and  he  in  May,  1834,  at  seventy-four. 

2.  Henry  Latleur,  17G1,  he  married  Feliciana  Quirigoust 
Philip,  in  Fol)ruary,  1780.  She  died  in  January,  1789,  and 
he  after,  Fob.  14,  1835,  at  seventy-five  years. 

3.  Marie,  17(53,  married  to  Louis  Tosson  Honore  in  Kaa- 
kaskia  in  1782,  and  died  in  St.  Louis  March  19,  1784, 
at  twenty-two  years  of  age  with  a  child  of  four  months, 
but  two  months  after  the  death  of  her  stepfather,  Michael 
Lamy. 

4.  Pierre,  1764,  married  Genevieve  Charleville.  She 
died  in  1822  at  forty-eight,  and  Pierre  Duchouquette  after 
August,  1835.     No  children. 


438  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

5.  Francois,  1766,  never  married ;  his  will  is  dated  Au- 
gust 15,  1834,  died  in  1836  (these  three  last  brothers  all 
died  without  families,  the  children  of  their  sister,  Mrs.  Bom- 
part,  becoming  their  heirs  ;  the  whole  four  died  '  ithin  a 
year  or  two  of  each  other,  and  all  of  them  between  seventy 
and  eighty). 

6.  Celeste,  born  1770,  was  married  to  Louis  Bompart 
in  Oct.  1790,  who  died  in  July,  1801,  and  the  widow  mar- 
ried Henry  Delaurier  in  180-. 

Francis  L.  Duchouquette,  Sr.,  removed  with  his  family 
from  Kaskaskia  across  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  where  he  died. 


MICHAEL  LAMY, 

born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  came  to  St.  Louis  with  the  first 
in  1765.  He  received  a  concession  of  a  lot  in  block  No. 
43,  on  which  he  built  a  house  in  1766.  In  1774,  he  bought 
Buet's  stone  house  in  block  No.  50,  and  then  married  the 
widow  of  Francois  Duchouquette,  Sr.,  at  Ste.  Genevieve, 
April  30,  1776,  and  brought  the  family  up  to  St.  Louis. 
Lamy  died  January  3,  1784,  leaving  but  one  child,  Theresa 
Lamy,  who  was  married  to  Pascal  Leon  Cerre,  the  only  son 
of  Gabriel  Cerre,  on  Feb.  13,  1797. 

Madame  Therese  Celeste  Barrois,  the  widow  of  both 
Duchouquette  and  Lamy,  died  on  Dec.  28,  1820,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three  years,  surviving  her  first  husband  some 
fifty  years,  and  her  second  about  thirty-seven. 

The  three  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pascal  L.  Cerre  and 
wife  were : — 

1.  Pascal  L.  Cerre,  Jr.; 

2.  Michael  Lamy  Cerre,  and 

3.  Catherine  Cerre,  who  became  the  wife  of  Peter  D. 
Papin. 


APPENDIX.  439 


RENE  BUET 

came  here  from  Cahokia  in  1766-67  ;  he  hud 'a  concession 
of  two  lots,  being  a  half  block  of  120  feetjfront  by  300 
deep,  upon  which  he  procured  to  be  built  by  his  friend, 
Laclede,  a  large  stone  house  for  the  day,  of  forty  by  thirty 
feet,  which,  when  completed,  he  occupied  for  a  few  years. 
Upon  his  death  on  Nov.  30,  1773,  being  a  single  man,  he 
bequeathed  this  house  and  other  property  |[lo  a  daughter  of 
his  brother  residing  in  Cahokia. 

This  house  was  for  many  years  the  southwestern  most  one 
of  the  village,  and  from  its  ample  well  cultivated  grounds, 
and  the  social  position  of  the  different  families  that  succes- 
sively owned  and  occupied  it,  it  had  acquired  -i  history. 
Michael  Laray  purchased  it  after  the  death  of  Biiet  in  1773, 
and  with  the  Duchouquette  family,  occupied  it  for  twenty- 
seven  years,  he  dying  in  it  January  3, 1784,  and  they  remain- 
ing in  it  sixteen  years  longer,  when  they  disposed  of  the 
property  in  October,  1800,  to  Doctor  Saugrain,  who  had  but 
recently  arrived  here,  and  whose  family  occupied  it  for  al- 
most sixty  years,  the  doctor  himself  dying  in  it  on  May  19, 
1820,  and  his  widow  July  13,  1860.* 

WILLIAM   BI88ETTE 

was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  and  was  in  business  in  Fort 
Chartres,  prior  to  the  establishment  of  St.  Louis,  where  he 
had  acquired  a  handsome  property  before  coming  over  to 
this  side,  which  he  did  amongst  the  first. 

He  purchased  the  Beaugenou  House'  in  1769,  after  the 
death  of  Mrs.  B.,  and  resided  in  it  a  little  over  a  couple  of 


'  A  somewhat  singular  coincidence  tliat  the  three  flrst  owners  should 
all  have  ended  their  days  in  it. 

'  Southwest  corner  Main  and  Almond. 


440  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

years  dying  in  it  himself,  a  single  man,  in  June,  1772,  leav- 
ing a  large  estate  for  the  period,  to  be  divided  between  his 
nine  surviving  brothers  and  sisters,  seven  of  them  married 
ladies,  all  but  one  living  in  their  native  city  of  Montreal, 
and  the  seventh  in  St.  Louis,  and  two  brothers  Charles  and 
Jno.  B.,  young  men  in  his  employment,  whom  he  had 
brought  over  with  him  from  Fort  Chartres,  another  brother 
Paul  having  died  over  there,  they  being  eleven  in  all. 
His  v/ill.  May  30,  !'•  72.     Substance  :  — 

1.  Debts  to  be  paid. 

2.  Five  hundred  livres  for  masses  in  the  church  for  two 
years. 

3.  Five  hundred  livres  for  ornaments  for  the  church. i 

4.  Five  hundred  livres  to  his  god-daughter  Pelagic,  wife 
of  Charles  VuUe  of  Ste.  Genevieve. 

5.  Five  hundred  livres  to  Francoise  B.,  wife  of  Batiste 
Charleville,  daughter  of  Charles  Brazeau,  of  Fort  Chartres. 

6.  One  thousand  livres  to  Juan  La  Montague,  his  clerk. 

7.  Three  hundred  livres  to  Marie  Berger,  seven  years  of 
age. 

8.  All  his  other  property,  peltries,  silverware,  slaves, 
animals,  houses,  buildings,  lands,  debts  due  him,  etc.,  etc., 
to  his  brother  Charles,  now  on  his  way  up  from  New  Or- 
leans, his  heir  and  executor,  on  condition  that  he  first  pay 
all  the  above,  and  to  carry  on  the  business  in  partnership 
with  La  Montagne  for  two  years,  then  to  divide  the  profits 
equally,  to  give  La  Montagne  a  chance  to  establish  himself 
in  business. 

After  the  two  years,  all  his  property  to  be  divided  equally 
between  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  appoints  Laclede  his 
executor  for  that  purpose. 

(Signed)     Bizbt,  M.  Duralde,  P.  Perit, 

N.  Chabot,  Witnesses. 
Labusciere,  Notary,    P.  Piernas,  Gov't. 


^  They  had  a  Htnall  one  June  24,  1770. 


APPENDIX.  441 


The  brothers  and  sisters  were:  — 

1.  Angelina,  wife  ot  Joseph  Tessier, 

2.  Margaret,  widow  of  Antoine  Lemer, 

3.  Marie  Anne,  wife  of  James  Leduc, 

4.  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Biron, 

5.  Marie  Louise,  wife  of  Jnc*.  Bap.  Fhivnrd, 


7t 


6.  Isabella,  wife  of  Louis  Vachard,  ) 

3l^^^,J  Of  Illinois. 


7.  Marie  Anne,  wife  of  Claude  Marec 

8.  Charles  Bissette, 

9.  Jno.  B.  Bissette 
Laclede  settled  up  the  estate  June  7,  1776. 


]'  ^Of  St.  Louis. 


CHARLES  SARPY  AND  WIFK,  8U8ANNE  TRENTY, 

were  residents  of  Fumel,  near  Agen,  in  the  province  of 
Gascony,  France,  and  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of 
ten  children. 

1.  John  B.  Sarpy,  No.  1,  tae  eldest  son,  was  in  business 
in  New  Orleans,  before  the  commencement  of  St.  Louis,  he 
came  up  in  1766,  and  carried  on  business  here  as  a  merchant 
for  over  twenty  years,  when  he  returned  to  New  Orleans, 
and  died  there,  in  1798,  single. 

2.  Silvester  Delor  Sarpy,  came  here  some  years  after  his 
brother  above,  remained  here  but  a  few  years,  went  back  to 
New  Orleans,  married  and  died  there  in  1799,  leaving  sev- 
eral children ;  two  of  his  daughters  married  the  two  brothera 
Burthe,  from  Paris. 

3.  Pierre  L'  Estang  Sarpy  came  here  in  1/86-87,  and 
died  in  the  year  1788  at  thirty-three  years  of  age. 

4.  Gregoire  Berald  Sarpy,  born  in  1764,  came  here  in 
1786,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  and  married  here  in  1797 
at  thirty-three  years  of  age,  and  died  May  15, 1824,  at  sixty 
years  of  age. 

5.  Jno.  B.  Lille  Sarpy,  was  in  New  Orleans  in  1809. 

6.  Pierre  St.  Marc  Sarpy. 


442  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

7.  Susaniie  Mad'e  D'Alverny. 

8.  Therese  Mad'e  Noirit. 

9.  Helena  Mad'e  LaDausse. 

10.  Marie  Mad'e  Laporte,  spent  their  lives  in  France. 
Gregoire  B.  Sarpy  was  married  to  Pelagie,  daughter  of 

Mr.  Silvester  Lcbbadle,  on   May  1,1797 — their   children 
were, — 

1.  John  B.  Sarpy  No.  2,  born  January  12,  1798. 

2.  Susanne,  born  Oct.  22,  1800. 

3.  Pierre  Abadie,  born  in  1805. 

4.  Thos.  Lestang,  in  1810,  and  several  that  died  young. 

CLEMENT   DELOR    DE  TREQET, 

born  in  Quercy,  Cahors,  south  of  France,  had  been  an  officer 
in  thb  French  navy,  and  with  his  wife,  Catherine  Marin,  alsa 
born  in  France,  came  up  with  one  or  more  young  children  in 
1767  froraSte.  Genevieve  to  settle  themselves  in  St.  Louis. 
Passing  up  by  water,  being  persons  of  refined  tastes,  they 
were  particularly  struck  with  the  romantic  beauty  of  a  par- 
ticular point  on  the  river  bank  some  five  miles  below  the 
then  infant  village.  On  his  arrival  he  made  application  to 
St.  Ange  for  a  grant,  upon  which  he  erected  a  stone  house, 
and  this  was  the  first  commencement  of  what  in  time  be- 
came Carondelet  —  the  precise  spot  is  just  east  of  the  plat- 
form of  the  first  station  at  the  foot  of  Elwood  Street,  where, 
until  very  recently,  the  rubbish  of  the  old  building  was  still 
to  be  seen,  erected  over  one  hundred  years  ago. 
Their  children  were  — 

1.  Pierre  Delor,  married  to  Sophie  Chouquet. 

2.  A  son  died  young. 

3.  Madelaine,  to  Francois  Cailhol,  1781,  and  to  Lambert 
Lajoie  in  1811. 

4.  Marie  Rose,  to  M.  Alexis  Mario  in  1784. 

5.  Felicite  born  1775. 


APPENDIX.  44i3 

Mad.  Ciitherine  Marin  Delor  died  Dec.  14, 1776,  at  thirty- 
four  years  of  age. 

Delor  De  Treget  married  his  second  wife,  Angelique 
A.  Martin,  February  15,  1779.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren. 

1.  Angelique  married  Hyacinthe  Pigeon. 

2.  Felicite  to  Antoine  Moitier. 

3.  Marguerite  to  Jno.  B.  M.  Chatillon. 

4.  Agnes  to  Leon  Constant,  Feb.  6,  1811,  by  Leduc. 
Children   of  Pierre  Delor,  Sr.  and  wife,  Sophia  Chou- 

quet. 

1.  Pierre  Delor,  Jr. 

2.  Gregory. 

3.  Alexis. 

4.  Antoine. 

5.  Cecile,  widow  of  Charles  Robert,  Jr. 

6.  Adelle,  widow  of  Antoine  Gnion. 

7.  Odille,  wife  of  John  Lux. 

8.  Selina,  wife  of  Charles  Valle. 

JOHN    BAP't  ORTE8, 

carpenter,  was  born  in  Bearne,  France,  near  the  Pyrenees, 
in  1737,  the  same  place  as  Laclede,  and  came  with  him  to 
America,  and  to  St.  Louis  in  1765.     In  the  year  1782  he 
married  Elizabeth  Barada,  born  in  Vincenne8,'^September 
27,  1764,  and  who  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1768,  at  the  age  of 
four  years.     He  died  November  25,  1814,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years,  and  his  widow,  who  survived  him  lifty- 
four  years,  in  the  year  1868,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one 
hundred  and  four  years,  having  lived  a  full  century  in  the 
place. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  daughters :  — 
Florence,  born  in  1784,  married  to  Joseph  Philibert  in 
1803. 


444  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

Marie,  born  in  1786,  married  to  Joseph  Laprise  in  1802, 
and  after  his  death  again  twice. 

Felicite,  born  in  1787,  married  to  Charles  Le  Guerrier 
about  1810. 

JOSEPH    PHILIBERT,  SR., 

born  in  Canada,  came  to  St.  Louis  about  the  year  1801, 
and  was  married  to  Florence  Ortes  in  1803. 

He  died  in  1866,  and  Mrs.  Philibert  in  18—. 

Their  nine  children  were  Joseph,  Jno.  Bap't,  Augustus, 
Henry,  Benjamin,  Adolph  and  Edward,  seven  sons,  and 
Mrs.  Aug.  Guelberth  and  Mrs.  Baradu,  two  daughters ; 
most  of  them  yet  live. 

JOSEPH   ROBIDOU,   SR., 

shoemaker,  was  born  in  Montreal  about  the  year  1720.  He 
came  to  St.  Louis  in  the  year  1770  with  his  only  son,  a 
young  man  just  of  age,  born  also  in  Montreal,  of  the  same 
name  as  his  father,  Joseph. 

The  father  died  September  12,  1771,  at  the  house  of 
Kiery  Denoyer,  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Elm,  an 
inventory  of  his  effects  taken,  and  they  placed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor in  the  possession  of  his  son. 

This  Joseph  No.  2  was  married  to  Catharine  Rollet,  dit 
Laderoute,  September  21,  1782.  He  had  embarked  in  the 
fur  business,  which  he  prosecuted  for  over  thirty  years  quite 
successfully  and  prosperously,  having  acquired  a  handsome 
property. 

He  died  on  March  17,  1809,  at  the  age  of  60  years,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  half  a  dozen  sons,  all  grown  to  manhood, 
and  appointing  Col.  Augusta  Chouteau  his  executor,  who 
closed  up  his  estate. 

His  widow  married  Victor  Lagoterie  in  1 811,  and  removed 
from  this  place. 


APPENDIX.  445 

Hia  children  were  :  — 

1.  Joseph  No.  3,  born  1784,  who  married,  first,  a  Miss 
Dolisle,  and  tor  hia  second  wife,  Angelique  Vaudry,  of 
Cahokiii ;  and 

3.  FraiicoiH,  horn  1788.  These  two  brothers  were  asso- 
ciated here  in  business  for  some  twenty  years,  when  Joseph 
established  himself  at  and  was  the  founder  of  the  city  of  St. 
Joseph. 

2.  Lewis,  born  1786,  between  Joseph  and  Francois,  died 
1788. 

4.  Margaret,  born  1790. 

5.  Isidore,  born  1791. 

6.  Antoine,  born  1794. 

7.  Louis,  born  1796. 

8.  Michel,  born  1798. 

9.  Eulalie,  born  1800. 
10.  Felagie,  born  1802. 

Joseph  Robidou's  first  wire  and  the  wife  of  his  brother 
Francis  were  sisters,  Desliles. 

BENITO  VA8QUEZ,  8R. 

Born  in  Gallicia,  Spain,  in  the  year  1750,  came  to  St. 
Louis  in  the  Spanish  service  with  Gov.  Piernas  in  1770, 
then  twenty  years  of  age,  holding  a  subordinate  position 
in  the  military  service. 

He  was  married  Nov.  27,  1774,  then  twenty-four,  to 
Miss  Julie  Papin,  born  in  Canada,  daughter  of  Pierre  Papin 
and  Catherine  Richard,  called  sixteen  years;  they  were 
parents  of  twelve  children. 

1.  Felicite,  born  1775,  married  to  Antoine  Roy  1792, 
died  in  1803. 

2.  Julia,  born  1777,  married  to  Louis  Coignard,  1797, 

3.  Benito,  Jr.,  born  1780,  married  to  Clarissa  Lefebvre 
1814. 


446  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

4.  Francis  Xavier,  born  1781,  died  1782  at  one  year. 

5.  A.  F.  Baronet,  born  1783,  married  to  Emily  Faustin 
Parent  in  1810,  a  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Army. 

6.  Joseph  Pepe,  born  1786,  married  to  Marie  L.  Hebert 
Lecompte  in  1816. 

7.  Victoire,  born  1787,   married  to  Isaac  Septlivres  in 
1814. 

8    Marie  Anne,  born  1790,  died  1791. 

9.  Hypolite  Guillory,  born  1792,  married  first,  to  Mary 
Lajeunesse  1817;  second,  to  H.  L.  Tison  1837. 

10.  Celeste,   born   1794,   married  to   Antoine  Vincent 
Bonis  1812. 

11.  Eulalie,   born  1795,  married,  first,  to  John  Stotts ; 
and  second,  to  Jacques  Martin. 

12.  Pierre  Louis,  born  1798. 

Ben'to  Va&quez,  Sr.,  died  in  1810  at  sixty  years  of  age, 
and  Mrs.  B.  ^rasquez  in  1825,  aged  sixty-seven  years. 

JOSEPH  ALVAREZ  HORTIZ, 

son  of  Francis  Alvarez  and  Bernarda  Hortiz,  born  in 
Lienira,  Estreniadura,  Spain,  in  1753,  came  to  St.  Louis  a 
young  soldier  with  the  first  Spaniards,  having  taken  his 
mother's  name  of  Hortiz  when  ho  enlisted. 

In  January,  1780  he  married  Marguerite  Marianne 
Becquet,  daughter  of  Jno.  B.  Becquet  and  Marie  Francoise 
Dodier,  born  at  New  Cliartres,  111.,  in  1763;  he  being 
twenty-seven  and  she  seventeen  years  of  age. 

Their  children  wore  John  B.,  Francis,  Andrew,  Benjamin, 
Joseph  sons,  and  Eulalie,  wife  of  Laberge,  Leonora  wife  of 
Bergeron,  the  wife  of  Jos.  Morin  and  Jno.  Bap.  Lebeau's 
wife. 

He  was  of  a  good  family  and  well  educated,  and  became 
the  secretary  of  Governors  Trudeau  and  Delassus. 

Hortiz  died  in  1808,  aged  fifty-five  years. 


APPENDIX.  447 


EUOENIO   ALVARRZ, 

born  ill  Madrid,  Spuiii,  ubout  173(i,  was  a  Spanish  soldier 
an    came  to  St.  Louis  with  Piernas  in  1770. 

He  married  in  1782  Joseplia  Cropean,  born  in  Post  Vin- 
cennes:  their  children  were  two  sons  and  one  daujrhter. 

1.  Manuel  Alvarez,  who  married  Aspasie . 

2.  Auguste,  who  married  Brigitte  Latresse. 

3.  Eugenie,  wife  of  Francis  Croloy. 

Alvarez  in  his  old  age  was  the  king's  military  store 
keeper;  he  died  in  June,  1816,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  his  widow  survived  him  a  number  of  years. 

MARTIN  MILONY  DURALDB, 

born  in  Biscaya,  Spain,  son  of  Pierre  Duralde  and  Marie 
di  Elizaga,  came  here  with  Piernas  ;  he  was  a  well  educated 
gentleman,  of  good  family  and  abilities,  and  raised  to  busi- 
ness ;  he  was  the  first  surveyor  of  the  place,  appointed  by 
Gov.  Piernas.  He  married  here  in  1776,  Mario  Josepha 
Perrault,  born  in  Quebec,  daughter  of  Louis  Perrault,  mer- 
chant of  that  place,  and  wife  Josepha  Bobe,  deceased. 

Duralde  remained  but  a  few  years  in  the  place,  returning 
to  Now  Orleans,  where  his  wife's  connections  resided. 

Tnese  last  four  comprise  all  the  Spaniards  that  married  here 
during  its  occupancy  of  thirty-five  yeai's  by  that  nation  ;  they 
all  married  French  wives,  who  with  their  children  spoke  only 
the  French  language,  converting  their  husbands  into  very 
good  Frenchmen. 

One  other  Spaniard,  Manuel  Lisa,  who  came  up  from  be- 
low but  a  few  years  before  the  transfer  to  the  United  States, 
brought  a  wife  with  him,  but  I  think  an  American  lady,  as 
she  was  the  widow  ol  one  Chew. 


44y  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS 


JOSEril    PAIMN,    811., 

a  fur  trader,  tho  Hrst  of  tlio  mime  in  St.  Louia,  and  his  wife 
Marfjaret  Laforce,  were  born  and  married  in  Montreal, 
Canada,  wliero  tlio  lady  died  leaving  but  a  son.  He  then 
came  to  St.  Louis,  where  hi»  name  first  appears  in  our 
art-hives  in  Ai)ril,  1769,  aliliougli  there  is  no  doubt  that  he 
had  arrived  there  some  years  previously.  He  died  April  18, 
1772,  at  the  house  of  Francis  IJissonet,  Main  Street,  his 
son  Joseph  M.  then  absent  in  Canada. 

His  will  of  April  9,  1772,  leaves  all  his  property  to  his 
son,  J.  M.  Papin,  who  on  his  return  from  Canada  was  placed 
in  immediate  possession  of  it. 

JOSEPH    MARIE    PAPIN, 

supposed  to  be  about  twent^'-eight  years,  was  married  to 
Marie  Louise  Chouteau  on  January  9,  1779,  called  by  her 
mother  in  the  contract  a  minor  of  fourteen  and  a  half  years, 
their  children  were  — 

1.  Joseph  Papin,  born  in  1780,  married  a  widow  Brad- 
shaw,  in  1820. 

2.  Marguerite,  in  1781,  to  M.  P.  Ledu:,  1802.  She  died 
April  1,  1808. 

3.  Alexander,  in  1782,  to  Julie  Brazeau,  1814. 

4.  Marie  Therese,  in  1784,  to  Antoine  Chenie,  1806. 

5.  Marie  Louise,  in  1785,  to  Antoine  Roy,  1812,  and  to 
H.  Renard,  1818. 

6.  Hypolite,  in  1787,  to  Josephine  Loisel,  1815. 

7.  Pelagic,  in  1789. 

8.  Sophie,  in  1791,  died  April  22,  1808. 

9.  Pierre  Millecour,  1793. 

10.  Silvestre  V.,  1794,  to  Clementine  Loisel,  1817. 

11.  Emilie,  1796,  to  Francois  Chauvin,  1816. 


APPENDIX  449 

12.  Pierre  Didier,  1798,  to  Catherine  L.  CVne,  182(5, 
Sept.  10. 

13.  Theodore,  1799,  to  Marie  Celeste  Duchouquot,  1820. 

14.  Joseph,  died  un  infant  in  1802. 

Mr.  Jos.  M.  Papin,  died  Sept.  18,  1811,  called  about 
sixty  years  of  age,  and  Mrs.  Papin,  Feb.  27,  1817,  about 
fifty -three  years. 

JOHN  B.  TRUDEAU, 

villaoje  schoolniiistcr,  was  born  in  Canada,  in  1748,  and  came 
to  St,  Louis  in  1774,  when  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He 
marriec'  in  1781,  Madeleine  Leroy,  widow  of  Francis 
Hebert,  and  daughter  of  Julion  Le  Roy  and  Barbara  Saucier. 
Their  children  were  :  — 

1.  John  B.,  born  1782,  dieu  in  1783. 

2.  ^.  child  in  1785. 

3.  Euphrosine,  in  1787,  married  to  Louis  Bissette 
in  1803;  secondly,  to  Jos.  Loblond  in  1812;  and  3rdly, 
to  Jno.  B.  Bcrcier,  1829. 

4.  Louid,  born  in  1794,  married  Archange  Duraouchel, 
in  1814. 

5.  Jno    Batiste,  born  in  1800. 

6.  Asprsia,  born  in  1803,  died  in  1804. 

7.  Adrienne,  who  married  Antoine  Citoleur,  in  1813. 
Mr.  T.  wao  the  only  schoolmaster  of  the  Spanish  days, 

and  continued  to  teach  for  over  twenty  years  after  the  ti*ans- 
fer,  a  period  of  exceeding  a  half  century. 
He  died  in  1827,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 


ANTOINE    BARADA, 

and  his  wife.  Marguerite  Derosier,  were  married  at  the 
post  of  Vincennes  on  October  2,  1759,  where  their  first 
child,  Louis,  was  born   in   1760  ;   they  came  to  St.  Louis 

29 


450  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

with  the  early  comers  to  the  place,  having  several  children 
born  to  them  between  their  arrival  here  and  the  death  of 
Mr.  A.  Barada. 

1.  Francis,  baptized  June  26,  1775. 

2.  Jeannette,  April  6,  1777. 

3.  Marie  Therese,  Nov.  22,  1778. 

Antoine  Barada,  Sr.,  died  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Main  and  Myrtle  Streets  in  1780,  and  his  widow,  married 
Joseph  Sorin,  dit  La  Rochelle,  April  30,  1782. 

LOUIS   BARADA, 

son  of  Antoine  Barada,  deceased,  born  at  Vincennes,  and 
Marie  Becquet,  daughter  of  Jno.  B.  Becquet  and  Marie 
Dodier,  and  widow  of  Ignace  Laroche,  born  in  St.  Louis, 
were  married  on  February  24,  1781. 

In  the  year  1800,  Louis  Barada,  having  disposed  of  his 
house  and  lot  on  the  south  side  of  Plum  Street,  from  Sec- 
ond to  Third,  to  Francois  Duchouquette,  removed  to  St. 
Charles. 

In  our  territorial  days  we  had  here  the  following  Bar- 
adas,  viz. :  Antoine,  Honore,  Isidore,  Louis,  Pierre  and 
Silvestre,  and  perhaps  others. 


CHARLES     SANGUINET,    SR., 

was  born  in  Quebec,  Canada,  in  the  year  1740.  He  was 
the  son  of  Simon  Sanguinet,  a  notary  of  the  city,  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Angelique  Duchouquette ;  he 
had  been  married  in  that  place ;  his  first  wife's  name  was 
Veronica  Cardin,  and  he  was  a  widower  without  children 
when  he  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1775,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five  years. 
He  was  marrie''  on  April  12, 1779,  to  Mario  Anne  Conde, 


APPENDIX.  451 

the  eldest  of  the  two  daughters  of  Doc.  Aug't  A.  Conde 
deceased,  the  former  post-surgeon  at  Fort  Chartres. 

Chas.  Sanguinet,  Sr.,  died  Oct.  18,  1818,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years,  and  Mrs.  S.,  in  1822,  aged  fifty-nine;  they 
raised  a  large  family  of  children :  — 

1.  Marie  Catherine,  born  Feb.  23,  1781,  married  to 
Frans.  M.  Benoit  Nov.  22,  1798;  raised  five  children;  died 
in  1866,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

2.  Charles,  Jr.,  born  Dec.  9, 1783;  married  toCecileBra- 
zeau,  Oct.  19, 1816  ;  he  died  in  1876,  aged  ninety-two  years. 

3.  Simon,  born  Aug.  1,  1785;  married  first  to  Mary 
Greaer,  St.  Ferdinand,  March  5,  1822,  who  died  Nov.  19, 
1823,  aged  eighteen  years ;  and  secondly  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Poupart,  nee  Thouin,  July,  1824,  who  died  Jan.  25,  1835; 
Simon  Sanguinet  died  Oct.  14,  1857,  in  his  seventy-third 
year. 

4.  Celeste,  born  Sept.  23,  1787,  married  to  Jno.  B.  Le- 
moine,  Despin,  April  16,  1811 ;  she  died  Sept.  15,  1812, 
aged  twenty-five  years,  without  children. 

5.  Marie,  born  Feb.  2,  1790,  married  to  Joseph  V.  Gar- 
nier,  April  30, 1812  ;  died  Feb.  3, 1885,  at  ninety-five  years 
of  age ;  one  daughter,  Mrs.  John  Hogan. 

6.  Constance,  born  March  27,  1792,  married  to  Aug't  A. 
Chouteau,  June  10,  1810;  she  died  in  1834,  aged  about 
forty-two. 

7.  Christopher,  born  March  8,  1794  ;  died  unmarried. 

8.  Eulalie  Angelique,  born  May  14,  1796,  married  to  Jo- 
siah  Bright  in  1814  ;  she  died  Feb.  14,  1817,  at  twenty-one, 
leaving  a  son  and  daughter. 

9.  Adelaide,  born  Feb.  7,  1798,  married  to  Jno.  E. 
Tholozan,  Jan.  5,  1819;  she  died  April  2,  1877,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine  without  children. 

10.  Ar.ne  Caroline,  born  March  25,  1800,  married  to 
Horatio  Cozens  Nov.  24,  1818  ;  died  Jan.  1,  1884,  in  eighty- 
fourth  year  ;  a  son  and  daughter. 


452  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


GABRIEL   CERRE, 


merchant,  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  in  the  year  1733, 
and  came  to  Kaskaskia  a  young  man  of  twenty-two,  about 
the  year  1755.  He  married  there  Miss  Catherine  Girard, 
a  young  lady  of  the  place,  daughter  of  Antoine  Girard  and 
Maria  Lafontaine,  in  1865,  and  here  their  four  children  were 
born. 

Mr.  Cerre  was  a  resident  of  Kaskaskia  about  twenty-aix 
years,  engaged  in  active  business  until  the  year  1781,  when, 
with  his  wife  and  three  children  (the  eldest  then  a  married 
lady  of  Montreal)  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  still 
continued  in  business  for  twenty-four  additional  years,  until 
his  death,  April  4,  18C5,  having  attained  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  Mr.  Cerre  had  pursued  a  successful 
business  for  fifty  years  and  left  a  handsome  fortune. 

His  wife,  Mrs.  Cerre,  had  died  in  St.  Louis,  July  31, 
1800,  five  years  before  him,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years. 

Their  children  were:  — 

1.  Marie  Anne,  born  in  1766,  was  married  at  the  age  of 
fiiteen  years,  on  August  13,  1781,  to  Pierre  Louis  Panet,  a 
young  man  of  twenty,  of  Quebec,  Canada,  where  and  at 
Montreal  she  resided  during  her  life. 

2.  Marie  Therese,  born  November  26,  1769,  was  married 
on  September  21,  1786,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  to 
Auffst.  Chouteau,  of  St.  Louis,  he  then  thirty-six  years  of 
age.  She  died  August  14,  1842,  aged  seventy-two  years 
and  nine  months. 

3.  Pascal  Leon  (the  only  son),  born  in  1771,  married  in 
St.  Louis,  February  13, 1797,  to  Marie  Therese  Lamy,  only 
child  of  Michael  Lamy.  He  died  May  9,  1849,  aged  sev- 
enty-seven years.     Mrs.  Cene,  August  12,  1833. 

4.  Julia  Cerr6,  born  August  10,  1775,  married  Novem- 
ber 16,  1795,  at  twenty,  to  Antoine  Pierre  Soulard,  born  in 


APPENDIX.  453 

Rochefort,  Aunis,  France,  in  1766,  aged  twenty-nine 
years,  formerly  of  the  French  navy,  now  the  king's  sur- 
veyor, in  Louisiana.  Ant.  P.  Soulard  died  November 
9,  1825,  at  fifty-nine  years.  Mrs.  Soulard,  May  9,  1845, 
at  sixty-nine  years. 


JOHN     p.    POURCELLI, 

was  born  in  Provence,  France,  in  1749,  and  was  married  to 
Margaret  Barada,  at  Vincennes,  in  the  year  1780,  and  came 
to  St.  Louis  about  1784.     Their  children  were:  — 

1.  Jno.  Louis,  born  in  1780. 

2.  Margaret  Pascale,   1782,  married  Joseph  Lafrenaye 
in  1796. 

3.  John,  in  1784,  to  Angelique  Laperche,  in  1815. 

4.  Marie  Rose,  in  1786,  to  Dominique  Huge,  in  1803. 

5.  Antoine,  in  1788. 

Pourcelli,  died  October  15, 1789,  at  40  years  of  age. 


LOUIS    VACHARD,  DIT   LARDOI8E, 

and  wife,  Isabelle  Bissette,  one  of  the  sisters  and  heirs  of 
Wra.  Bissette,  came  here  from  Montreal  and  purchased 
their  house  from  Laclede  early  in  1775  and  then  moved 
into  it. 

They  had  four  song,  Louis,  Joseph,  Charles,  and  An- 
toine, all  born  in  Montreal,  and  all  then  unmarried. 

Louis  Vachard  died  in  1787,  and  his  widow,  Isabella 
Bissette,  ten  yeai-s  later  in  1797.  The  house  was  then 
thirty-two  years  old,  having  been  built  by  Beaugenou  in 
1765,  and  all  the  previous  owners  and  their  wives  had  died 
in  it.  The  next  owner  was  one  of  the  sons,  Antoine 
Vachard. 


454  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


ANTOINB  VINCENT  BQUIS,  8R., 


born  in  Genoa,  Italy,  about  the  year  1752,  and  Marie  Mad- 
eleine Robert,  born  in  Carondelet  in  1768,  were  married  in 
that  village  in  the  year  1782.  They  raised  six  sons  and 
four  daughters:  — 

1.  Ant'e  V.  Bouis,  Jr.,  born  1783,  married  Celeste  Vas- 
quez,  in  1812 ;  he  died  in  181-.  (His  only  son,  Ant'e  R. 
Bouis,  married  Mary  Forsythe. ) 

2.  Andre  V.  Bouis,  born  1785,  married  first  Angelique 
Noise  in  1807,  who  died  November  10,  1812,  and  secondly, 
Polly  Roddy,  in  1813.     He  died  in  1833-34. 

3.  Pascal  V.  Bouis,  born  in  1787,  graduated  at  "West 
Point  in  1806,  and  was  killed  in  a  duel  in  1812,  leaving  a 
widow,  Celeste  B. 

4.  Francis  V.  Bouis,  who  married  Helene  Croizet. 

5.  John  Baptist  Bouis,  who  died  single. 

6.  Pierre  Expedient  Bouis,  who  died  in  the  South. 

1.  Marie  Teresa,  married  to  Richard  Dillon. 

2.  Eulalie  Bouis,  married  to  Charles  D.  St.  Vrain. 

3.  Julia  O.  Bouis,  married  to  Lucien  Dumaine. 

4.  Elizabeth  Bouis,  married  to  Samuel  English. 

A.  V.  Bouis,  Sr.,  died  April  23,  1812,  aged  over  sixty 
years,  and  Mrs.  A.  V.  Bouis  July  30,  1834,  aged  sixty-six, 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Pine,  where  she  had 
lived  near  half  a  century. 

JOSEPH  BRAZEAU,  8R., 

the  first  of  the  name  we  have  found,  is  mentioned  in  the 
archives  of  Kaskaskia  as  an  early  comer  to  the  Illinois  coun- 
try from  Canada,  who  was  killed  by  Indians  on  the  Kas- 
kaskia River  in  the  year  1779,  aged  78  years,  of  course  born 
in  the  year  1701. 


APPENDIX.  455 

His  widow,  old  Madiime  Francoise  Brazeau  No.  1,  waa 
born  in  Canada  in  1719,  and  was  sixty  years  of  age  when 
her  husband  was  killed. 

She  came  to  St.  Louis  with  her  children  about  the  year 
1787,  where  she  died  March  18,  1793,  aged  seventy-four 
3'ears,  their  children  were  — 

First.  Joseph  BrazeauNo.  2,  born  in  Kaskaskia  in  1742, 
and  died  in  St.  Loui.s,  Nov.  23,  1816,  aged  seventy-four 
years  ;  he  had  married  — 

Marie  Therese  Delisle,  born  in  Kaskaskia  in  1749,  and 
died  in  St.  Louis,  Feb.,  1834,  at  eighty-five  years.  This 
Brazeau  came  first  to  St.  Louis  in  1781,  and  had  no  children. 

Second.  Louis  Brazeau,  Sr.,  born  about  1745,  died  Dec. 
5,  1828,  aged  eighty-three,  his  wife,  Marie  Francoise  De- 
lisle,  bora  1750  at  Kaskaskia,  died  Nov.  26,  1810,  at  sixty 
years. 

Third.  Francoise  Brazeau  No.  2  born  about  1757,  died 
April,  1826,  aged  sixty-nine,  was  the  widow  of  Jno.  B. 
Chauvin  dit  Charleville,  who  had  died  at  Kaskaskia. 

Children  of  Louis  Brazeau,  Sr.,  called  "  Caioua  :"  — 

1.  Joseph,  Jr.,  married  to  Julia  Phisbac,  July  24,  1810, 
he  died  August,  1825. 

2.  Louis,  Jr.,  to  Miss  Dumoulin. 

3.  Augustus  to  Melanie  St.  Cir. 

4.  Marie  to  Jno.  B.  Duchouquette,  July  2,  1798.  She 
died  July,  1818,  and  he  May,  1834. 

5.  Therese  to  Charles  Bosseron,  July  28,  1805. 

6.  Julia  to  Alexander  Papin,  July  24,  1810. 

7.  Cecile  to  Chas.  Sanguinet,  Jr.,  Oct.  19,  1816. 

8.  Aurora  to  Louis  Bompart,  Jr.,  July  24,  1821. 

Children  of  Mad'e  Francoise  Brazeau  Charleville:  — 
1.  Genevieve,  born  1774,  to   Pierre  Duchouquette,  died 
1822,  at  forty-eight. 


456  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

2.  Joseph   C,  born  1776,    to  Victoiro  Verdon,  July  15, 
1797. 

3.  Pelagie,  born  1778,  to  F.  Tayon,  June  8,  1795. 

4.  John  B.,  born  1780. 
6.  Louis,  born  1782. 


HYACINTHE  ST.  CIR,  8R., 

born  near  Quebec,  Canada,  son  of  Francis  St.  Cir,  and 
Francesca  Proto,  and  Helene  Hebert,  born  in  Illinois, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Hebert,  Sr.,  and  Agnes  Michel  were 
married  in  St.  Louis,  Feb.  25,  1783, 

St.  Cir  was  one  of  the  few  prominent  men  of  the  early  times 
in  St.  Louis,  and  one  of  the  most  energetic  and  enterpris- 
ing, having  built  several  stone  houses  in  different  parts  of 
the  village,  a  mill,  etc.,  and  received  from  the  government 
several  grants  of  land  northwest  and  contiguous  to  St.  Louis, 
on  one  of  which,  seven  miles  north  in  St.  Ferdinand  Town- 
ship, he  died  Nov.  26,  1826,  aged  eighty  years,  and  was 
interred  there. 

They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  and  left  a  nu- 
merous progeny  of  descendants. 

1.  Hyacinthe,  Jr.,  born  1784. 

2.  Marie  Constance,  1785,  married  to  Wm.  Christy,  of 
St.  Charles. 

3.  Leon  Narcissus,  1787,  supposed  drowned. 

4.  Marie  Helen,  1789,  died  1820,  aged  thirty-one. 

5.  Frances  Agnes,  1792,  married  to  Lewellyn  Hickman. 

6.  Melanie,  1793,  married  to  Auguste  Bruzeau. 

7.  Therese,  1795,  died  1806,  aged  eleven. 

8.  Francis,  1797,  to  Mary  Ann  Bellew,  1825 ;  he  died 
1839. 

9.  Brigitte,  1799,  died  1801,  aged  one  year. 

10.  Brigitte  P.,  1801,  to  Samuel  Abbott. 


APPENDIX.  457 

11.  Pascal  Hohert,  1803,  to  Maria  Taylor. 

12.  Helono  to  Nicholas  Boilvin. 

13.  Emilie. 

14.  Benjamin  C,  living  in  Galena  a  few  years  back. 

15.  Stephen 

ALEXANDRK    BELLI8IMK, 

born  in  Toulon,  France,  in  1747,  came  over  to  America, 
dining  the  revolutionary  struggle,  with  the  French  troops, 
and  served  under  Lafayette  at  Yorktown  and  elsewhere. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolution  the  old  soldier,  as  did 
many  others,  came  out  West  and  found  his  way  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  concluded  to  take  up  his  permanent  resi- 
dence. 

August  9,  1796,  he  married  Maria  Josepha  Robidou, 
widow  of  Pierre  Morrisseau.  This  lady  died  January  13, 
1797,  about  five  months  after  marriage,  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years . 

On  December  27, 1806,  he  married  again, —  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  W.  and  Mary  Waters,  born  at  the  River  des 
Moines,  —  the  parties  and  witneses  all  signed  with  their 
crosses. 

Old  Alexie,  as  he  was  usually  called,  kept  for  many 
years  a  tavern  on  Second  Street,  between  Myrtle  and  Spruce, 
opposite  the  old  «•  Green  Tree,"  patronized  mostly  by 
French  river  boatmen  with  whom  he  was  a  great  favorite. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  General  Lafayette  to  our 
city,  April  29,  1825,  Bellisime  arrayed  himself  in  his  old 
uniform,  which  he  religiously  preserved  for  especial  occa- 
sions, and  hurried  to  greet  the  old  commander  of  his 
youthful  years.  The  General,  not  expecting  to  meet  with 
one  of  his  old  soldiers  after  a  lapse  of  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury, and  at  such  a  remote  point  as  this  then  was,  was  not 
only  surprised  and  delighted,  but  visibly  affected  at  the 


458  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

event.     The  General  embraced  the  old  soldier  'varmly,  to 
his  great  pride  and  infinite  satisfaction. 

BoUisime  died  Angust  23,  1833,  in  hia  eighty-seventh 
year,  and  was  bnriod  by  the  St.  Louid  Grays,  Captain 
Easton,  at  North  St.  Louis  Cemetery. 


CIIAUVINS    AND    CHAKLEVILLE8. 

The  surname  Chauvin  is  quite  common  in  certain  parts 
of  Franco,  particularly  in  the  northwest  portion.  The 
first  of  the  name  in  Canada  was  a  sea  captain  of  Dieppe  in 
Normandy,  who  cume  there  in  1599  with  a  grant  for  the 
monopoly  of  the  fur  trade  of  the  country,  on  the  condition  of 
establishing  and  maintaining  a  colony  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 

His  flotilla  of  five  vessels  landed  at  Tadoussac.  After 
establishing  his  colony  and  trading  off  his  goods,  he  re- 
turned to  France  with  a  rich  return  ;  he  made  a  second  voy- 
age equally  successful,  and  was  preparing  for  a  third,  when 
he  died  at  Dieppe  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1600.  His 
death  ruined  the  colony.^ 

Gayarre  tells  us  that  the  name  first  appeared  in  Louisi- 
ana in  1722,  when  three  brothers  Chauvin,  Nicholas,  John 
B.,  and  Joseph,  arrived  there  from  Canada.  We  find  in 
the  church  register  of  interments  in  St.  Louis  that  of  a 
John  B.  Chauvin,  born  in  Canada  in  1703,  who  died  here 
June  27,  1789,  aged  eighty-six  years,  doubtless  one  of 
these  three. 

The  first,  in  fact  the  only  Chauvin,  found  in  our  St.  Louis 
archives  was  Jacques  (James)  Chauvin,  born  in  Illinois  in 
1743. 

We  find  him  at  Fort  Chartres,  a  well  educated  young 
officer  in  the  French  service,  prior  to  the  cession  of  that 


1  He  must  have  been  the  progenitor  of  the  Canadian  Chauvins,  who 
are  quite  numerous. 


APPENDIX.  459 

side  to  the  English  in  17(53,  and  married  to  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Michel  dit  Tayon,  with  whoso  family  lie  came  over 
to   this  side  in  17(54-65,  a  lialf  pay  otfioor,  having  been  re- 
tired from  the  uervioe  at  the  transfer  to  Spain  and  Bug- 
land. 

After  living  in  the  village  exceeding  thirty-five  years,  he 
received  a  concession  from  Governor  Delassus  in  1799  of  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  the  west  part  of  our  county  opposite 
St.  Charles,  to  which  ho  removed,  and  where  ho  died  sud- 
denly on  May  8,  1826,  at  the  ago  of  eighty-tlireo  years,  his 
widow  surviving  him  l)ut  a  short  period. 

Their  children  were  — 

Jacques,  Lafreniere  J.,  Joseph,  Francois  D.,  Silvestre,  and 
John,  six  sons,  and  Jeanne,  Marie  Louise,  Eulaiie,  the  wife 
of  Pierre  Belaud,  and  Helene,  wife  of  Loisel  and  Lebeau. 

Now  Charleville,  as  a  family  name,  is  nowhere  found  in 
any  old  French  encyclopedias,  or  any  other  works  of  that 
nature.  We  can  only  trace  the  name  back  to  old  Joseph 
Chauvin  dit  Charleville,  who  died  in  Kaskaskia  about 
1783-84,  quite  an  aged  man  with  a  large  family  of  married 
sons  and  daughters,  some  of  whom  called  themselves 
Chauvins  alias  Charleville,  while  others  of  the  family  had 
dropped  the  Chauvin,  their  real  name,  and  thereafter  were 
called  by  the  alias  of  Charleville  only.  This  old  Joseph 
Chauvin  was  very  probably  one  of  the  three  mentioned  by 
Gayar6,  as  it  was  said  by  others,  that  originating  from 
Charleville,  a  largo  town  in  northern  France,  it  was  to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  the  others  that  they  had  appended  it  to 
his  name,  as  many  others  were  called  by  the  names  of  the 
places  they  came  from. 

He  married  in  Kaskaskia  about  the  year  1740,  a  Gene- 
vieve Bon  acceuil,  and  died  in  the  place  about  the  year  1785. 

Among  his  sons  were:  — 

1.  Jean  Bap.  Chauvin  alias  Charleville,  whose  wife  was 
Francoise  Brazeau  of  Kaskaskia. 


460  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

2.  Louis  Chuuvin  CImrleville,  whoso  wife  wn»  Thorese 
Lemoino  Dospins,  (lauj^hter  of  Roniiud  Despins  und  Mario 
Louise  BeauviiiH,  of  Stc.  Genevieve. 

3.  Charles  Chauvin  Charlovilio,  his  wife  Miirie  Louise 
Lemoine-Deapins,  the  two  brothers  Chauvin  marrying  the 
two  sisters  Lenioinc-Dospins. 

4.  Daniel  Blouiii,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Kaskaskia,  ut 
the  period,  was  a  son-in-law  of  this  Joseph  Chauvin  Charle- 
ville. 

5.  John  B.  St.  Gem  Beauvais  of  Stc.  Genevieve,  was  also 
a  son-in-law  and  closed  up  his  affairs  December  27,  1787. 

6.  Francois  was  another  son. 


MADAME    FHANCOI8E   BKA/.EAU    CHARLEVILLE, 

widow  of  the  above  Jno.  B.,  with  her  five  children,  in  com- 
pany with  the  family  of  her  brother  Louis  Brazeau,  Sr., 
removed  up  to  St.  Louis  in  1787, 

1.  Genevieve,  born  1774,  to  Pierre  Duchouquette.     She 
died  November  14,  1822,  at  forty-eight. 

2.  Joseph  C,  1776,  to  Vic.  Verdon,  July  15,  1797. 

3.  Pelagie  1778,  to  Fr's  Tayon,  June  8,  1795,  — one 
son  Francis  Tayon,  Jr. 

4.  John  B.,  1780, 

5.  Louis,  1782. 

JOSEPH   CHARLEVILLE'S    CHILDREN. 

1.  Jno.  B.  Charleville. 

2.  Pelagie,  Mrs.  Boy  or. 

3.  Joseph. 

4.  Athenaise,  Mrs.  Farris. 
b.  Henrietta,  Mrs.  Hunt. 

6.  Louis. 


APPENDIX.  401 

7.  Virginiii,  first  Mrs.  Duchouqiietto,  now  Mr?.  Henry 
Lynch. 

8.  Alextiiidor,  from  his  will,  October  31,  1838. 

Those  last  arc  the  only  Chiirlevilles  identitied  with  St. 
Louia. 

THE  CASir   FAMILY, 

previously  mentioned  very  brietty  in  the  Annals,  were  orijj:- 
inally  from  the  parish  of  Naziiig,  Essex,  England,  where 
for  many  generations  the  name  is  found  in  the  parish 
records,  and  in  New  England,  as  early  as  1639,  where 
Nicholas  Camp  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Milford, 
Conn't.,  and  John  Camp,  Sr.,  one  of  the  first  proprietors 
of  Hartford,  in  1()4C. 

John  Camp,  of  Durham,  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Ichabod  Camp,  our  subject,  moved  to  Durham,  that  place 
being  settled  principally  by  Milford  people.  The  baptism 
of  Ichabod  Camp,  son  of  John,  on  Fel)ruary  20,  1726,  is 
found  in  the  Durham  records. 

Ichabod  Camp,  was  born  February  15,  1726,  at  Durham. 
In  September,  1739,  at  thirteen  years,  entered  Yale  College, 
received  the  degree  of  B.  A.  September,  1743;  and  M.  A. 
September,  1746,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  and  was  licensed  to 
read  prayers  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 

On  March  22nd,  1752,  received  the  office  of  deacon,  in 
London,  Eng'd.,  and  on  March  26th,  1752,  ordained  a  Priest 
by  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  at  Berwick  Street  Chapel,  Parish 
of  St.  James,  Westminster,  London,  and  his  license  as  same 
from  the  Bishop  of  London,  March  27,  1752 ;  he  commenced 
his  duties  at  Christ  Church,  Middletown,  July  19,  and  at 
North  Haven,  August  2,  1752. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Content  Ward,  in  Connec- 
ticut, November  26,  1749,  who  died  in  Middletown,  De- 
cember 29,  1754,  leaving  a  son  and  daughter  who  attained 


462  ANNALa  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

maturity ;  and  secondly,  Anno  Oliver,  of  Boston  June  6, 
17.'57,  who  Hurvi.od  iiim,  nnd  horo  him  cij^ht  children,  of 
whom  two  or  three  died  young,  and  the  others  attained 
maturity. 

In  1700,  desirous  of  removing  to  a  more  genial  climate, 
he  left  Middletown  on  his  way  to  Virginia,  and  spent  the 
following  winter  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  the  next 
one  at  Cornwall  Parish,  Lunenburg  County,  Va.  In  the 
springof  17(52,  ho  removed  to  Amherst  County  and  parish 
to  which  he  had  been  appointed.  He  officiated  in  this 
parish  for  sixteen  years  ;  here  his  last  six  children  were 
l)orn,  all  girls,  — his  last  one  Caroline  born  in  1770,  died 
early  in  1778.  This  was  an  ev  .tful  period  in  the  history 
of  Virginia.  She  had  just  become  a  State,  the  oyes  of  her 
people  were  turned  on  Kentucky,  as  the  garuen  spot  of  our 
country,  to  which  a  goodly  number  of  her  people  had 
already  gone,  and  others  were  preparing  to  follow  in  in- 
creased numbers,  not  strange  then  that  even  a  clergyman 
should  catch  the  mania,  and  move  with  the  crowd. 

The  family  tradition  says  "that  Mr.  Camp  having  a  great 
many  negroes,  sent  some  of  them  ahead  under  ♦  Uncle 
Billy,'  an  old  negro  genius,  to  build  on  the  Monongahela, 
the  flat  bottomed  boats  for  the  family  and  stock  to  descend 
the  river  ;  two  other  families  started  in  company  with  them 
from  Amherst,  these  with  others  left  Pittsburg  with  Clark's 
expedition  in  June,  1778.  There  were  eleven  boats  in  the 
party,  each  with  a  cabin,  with  their  furniture  and  plenty  of 
clothing — each  boat  had  a  swivel  that  they  fired  off  at 
morning  and  at  night  to  keep  off  the  Indians,  who  were  so 
terrified  on  the  lower  river  that  they  reported  at  New  Or- 
leans that  an  army  was  coming  down."  ' 

Whether  it  was  Mr.  Camp's  design,  or  an  afterthought 


1  So  far  the  diary  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Camp,  afterwards 
continued  by  Mrs.  Camp. 


Al'I'ENDIX.  46.*J 

does  not  appour,  Ixit  ho  did  not  stop  at  tho  Falls  of  the 
Ohio  as  most  of  the  tnovors  west  did,  but  kopt  on  down 
tho  MirtsisHlppi  to  Natchoz,  whoro  thoy  passed  tho  winttM*. 
Horo  his  oldest  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  died,  on  Fohruary  23, 
1779,  at  the  ago  of  sixteen  years.  They  then  returned  up 
tho  Mississippi  to  Kaskaskia  where  they  landed  May  1, 
1779,  and  settled  themselves. 

Mr.  Carapsoon  became  well  and  favorably  known  to  all 
the  prominent  personages  of  tho  day,  as  well  on  this  as  on 
tho  other  side  of  the  river,  and  he  and  his  family  were 
treated  with  ninob  consideration. 

In  October,  1781,  Mr.  Canjp  being  very  ill  executed  his 
will,  drawn  up  by  another  but  signed  by  himself,  and  wit- 
nessed by  Shadrach  Bond,  Joseph  Hunter  and  James  Willey, 
three  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  early  Americans  thore  in 
the  Territorial  days. 

Shadrach  Bond  was  afterwards  the  first  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Uamp  was  a  little  over  sixty  years 
of  age  on  April  20th,  178fi,  the  date  of  his  sudden  and 
violent  death. 

After  the  widow  Camp  came  over  to  St.  Louis,  she  pur- 
chased a  house  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Second  and 
Spruce  Streets  with  the  quarter  block  of  ground  upon  which 
it  stood.  In  this  house  she  resided  during  the  seventeen 
years  she  lived  in  St.  Louis,  and  here  she  died  on  October 
27,  1803,  highly  respected  by  all  the  French  inhabitants  of 
the  place  (for  wo  wore  yet  French),  as  this  proves : 

1.  A  concession  by  Gov.  Manuel  Perez  to  Ann  Camp, 
March  12,  1791,  of  a  lot  of  120  by  150  feet,  for  a  barn  lot 
(southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Almond). 

2.  A  concession  by  Gov.  Zonon  Trudeau  to  Ann  Camp 
and  Antoine  Reilho,  her  son-in-law,  December  6,  1797,  of 
a  tract  of  land  on  the  River  Dos  Peres,  of  2,900  arpents. 

Tho  three  daughters  who  came  with  her  from  Kaskaskia, 
were  all  married  in  St.  Louis. 


J:6J:  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Mackey  Wherry  from  Pennsylvania,  married  Louise,  the 
youngest,  on  March  19,  1800.  They  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  they  raised  the  three  eldest,  Joseph  A.  Wherry, 
who  succeeucd  his  father,  Mackey,  as  City  Register,  in 
1827,  Doct  M.  Wherry,  of  this  county,  and  Dan'l  B. 
Wherry,  who  died  iu  C"itral  Missouri. 

The  Wherrys  of  the       sent  day  are  their  descendants. 

Catherine  Camp,  th^  dow  of  Jno.  B.  Guion,  was  mar- 
ried January  18,  1804,  .  '^srael  Dodge,  from  Connecticut, 
then  residing  at  New  Bourbon,  Ste.  Genevieve  County,  he 
settling  on  her  "a  house  and  grounds  in  New  Bourbon, 
one  thousand  silver  dollars,  two  young  slaves,  and  one 
thousand  arpents  of  land." 

The  remaining  daughter,  Charlotte,  was  married  to  Moses 
Bates,  then  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  in  the  year  1805  in  St.  Louis  ; 
subsequently  they  removed  to  St.  Charles.  She  died  in 
April,  1818,  at  the  age  of  tifty-one  years. 

The  eldest  of  the  four,  Estella,  the  wife  of  Antoine  Reilhe, 
had  died  in  St.  Louis  April  24,  1793,  in  her  thirtieth  year, 
and  Reilhe  himself  March  3,  1802,  aged  sixty-seven.  They 
left  three  children  — 

1.  Antoine,  Jr.,  who  subsequently  removed  to  Portage 
des  Sioux,  St.  Charles  County. 

2.  Margaret,  born  January  29,  1V87,  married  to  Alex- 
ander McNair  March,  1805.     Ten  children. 

3.  Stella,  born  January  1, 1789,  married  to  David  Harvey 
January,  1806.     Seven  children. 

The  descendants  of  Ichabod  and  Mrs.  Ann  Camp  are 
very  numerous,  including  the  names  of  McNair,  Wherry, 
Reilhe,  Dodge,  Harvey  and  others.  On  the  9th  of  April, 
1804,  the  Camp  heirs,  to  save  costs  and  trouble,  petitioned 
Gov.  Stoddard  for  permission  to  make  an  amicable  parti- 
tion of  the  estate  without  the  process  of  court ;  this  per- 
mission he  granted  them,  dated  April  15th.  It  is  the  first 
official  act  of  Stoddard  on  record. 


APPENDIX.  465 


JOEIN    riERIiE    UlDIEIl,  WATCHMAKER, 

carao  from  Besuncon,  Franche  Cointe,  France,  his  native 
place,  with  his  wife  and  only  child,  an  infant  danijhtor, 
about  the  year  1793,  in  company  with  other  refugees 
during  the  French  Revolution. 

Ho  cama  first  to  Galliopolis,  Ohio,  and  then  to  this  place 
(St.  Louis),  where  ho  spent  the  rest  of  his  life. 

On  March  29,  179G,  he  purchased  the  south  half  of  block 
No.  54  with  a  stone  house  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Second  and  Poplar  Streets,  in  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  Au<;ust  25,  1823,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty  years, 
after  a  residence  of  thirty  years  in  the  place. 

Ho  tilled  the  position  of  Territorial  Treasurer  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  His  only  daughter,  Josephine,  was  married 
in  May,  1811,  to  Mr.  Hubert  Guion,  a  native  of  the  ])lace, 
who  died  at  Jefferson  Burracks  May  23,  1833,  where  he 
was  the  clerk  of  the  sutler,  Capt.  Geo.  H.  Kennerly. 

Mr.  Guion  left  a  son  and  two  daughters,  who  became  the 
first  wives  of  Judge  Wilson  Primm  and  Moses  Lamoureux, 
merchant,  all  now  deceased. 


UEGISTRE    LOISEL,  MERCHANT, 

was  born  in  the  parish  of  Assumption,  Lower  Canada,  son 
of  Registro  Loisel  and  Manette  Massin,  both  deceased. 
He  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1793,  and  on  May  7th,  1800,  was 
married  to  Heleno,  minor  daughter  of  Jaccpies  Chauvin 
and  Marie  Louise  Taillon. 
Their  children  were  :  — 

1.  Josephine,  born    in  1801,  and  married  to    Hy polite 
Papin,  July  4,  1815. 

2.  Clementine,  born   1803,  and  married  to  Silvestre  V. 
Papin,  July  18,  1817. 


466  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

3.  Regis,  Jr.,  born  in  1805,  a  posthumous  son. 

R.  Loisel,  Sr.,  died  in  New  Orleans  in  October,  1804, 
and  his  widow  was  afterwards  married  to  Francois  Lebeau, 
of  this  place.  The  son  Regis  became  a  priest  and  removed 
across  to  Cahokia. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hypolite  Papin  were  the  parents  of  a  nu- 
merous progeny.  Of  the  sons  there  were  Hypolite,  Jr., 
Joseph  L.,  Theodore,  Raymond,  Henry,  Millecour,  Eu- 
gene, etc.,  and  the  daughters  were  Mesdames  Dupre,  Ed. 
Tracy,  Jas.  Waugh  and  Greer. 

Mr.  Silvestre  V.  Papin,  Sr.,  died  August  3,  1828,  father 
of  Silvestre  V.,  Doct. Timothy  L.,  and  Theophile  Papin,  and 
one  daughter,  Mrs.  C.  Carriere. 

BERNARD    PRATTE,  SR.,  MERCHANT, 

son  of  John  B.  Pratte  and  Marie  Anne  Lalumandiere,  was 
born  in  Ste.  Genevieve  about  1772,  and  came  a  young  man 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  embarked  in  business  in  1793. 

On  May  12,  1794,  he  was  married  to  Emilie  Sauveur, 
minor  daughter  of  Silvester  Labbadie  and  Pelagie  Chou- 
teau. 

Their  children  were  :  — 

1.  Silvestre,  born  September  22,  1799,  married  June  5, 
1822,  to  Odille  Delassus,  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  and  died  June 
1828,  on  the  Platte  River. 

2.  Bernard,  Jr.,  born  December  17,  1803,  married  to 
Louise  Chenie  July  20,  1824. 

3.  Emilie,  married  to  Ramsey  Crooks,  of  New  York, 
March  10,  1825,  deceased. 

4.  Therese,  married  first  to  Walter  B.  Alexander,  March 
21,  1824,  who  died  July  15,  1826,  and  secondly  to  L.  D. 
Peugnet,  of  New  York,  February,  1830. 

5.  Celeste,  married  to  Stephen  F.  Nidelet,  of  Philadel- 
phia, August  12,  1826. 


APPENDIX.  467 

6.  Pelagie,  married  to  Louis  V.  Bogy  of  St.  Louis,  botli 
deceased. 

7.  Aimee,  married  to  Mr.  Blaine,  of  France. 

Bernard  Pratte,  Sr.,  died  on  Friday,  April  1,  1836,  aged 
sixty-four  years,  and  his  widow  November  23d,  1844.  His 
will,  executed  March  30th,  two  days  before  his  death. 


LOUIS    AUGUSTUS    TARTERON    DE   LABEAUME, 

was  born  in  Vigan,  province  of  Languedoc,  France,  about 
the  year  1766,  and  was  married  when  a  young  man  to  Ade- 
laide Duteraple,  about  the  year  1787,  who  bore  him  three 
children,  and  died  in  France,  a  young  woman.  About  the 
year  1792,  after  France  had  adopted  her  Repulilican  consti- 
tution, Mr.  Labeaurae  left  France  with  his  two  young  chil- 
dren, Marie  Louise  Lucille,  born  about  1788,  and  Pierre 
A.uguste,  about  1790,  leaving  the  third,  an  infant,  and  came 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  life. 

On  June  8,  1797,  Mr.  Labeanme  married  his  second  wife, 
Susanne,  the  third  daughter  of  Louis  Chauvet  Dubreuil, 
deceased,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons:  Louis  Alexandre, 
Theodore,  Louis  Tarteron  and  Charles  Edmond,  and  three 
daughters,  Eleanor  Olympe,  who  died  young  from  an  acci- 
dent, Susan  Clarrissa,  and  Eugenie. 

On  May  8,  1804,  Mr.  Labeaume  purchased  from  a  Jno. 
B.  Paquet  a  piece  of  land  of  4  by  40  arpents  160,  lying 
about  live  miles  north  of  the  village,  on  the  road  to  old  Fort 
Bellefontaine,  and  now  forming  a  part  of  Bellefontuine 
Cemetery.  On  this  land  he  built  a  house  of  logs  (which 
has  only  been  removed  within  these  last  few  years)  ;  here 
he  resided  until  his  death,  January  4,  1821,  leaving  eight 
children,  and  here  his  youngest  children  were  born. 

At  that  early  period  in  our  history  the  country  around 
about  this  region  of  our  Baden  of  the  present  day,  was  called 


4:ijS  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

the  White-Ox  prairie.  While  living  here,  a  few  years  prior 
to  his  death,  Mr.  Labeaume  wrote  his  will,  dated  November 
22,  1817,  which  is  found  of  Record  in  Book  G3,  244.  In 
this  will  he  says  :  — 

"There  are  left  of  my  first  wife,  Adelaide  Dutemple, 
two  children,  Pierre  Auguste,  and  Marie  Lucille,  and  per- 
haps a  third  named  Theodore,  that  circumstances  compelled 
me  to  leave  in  France,  of  whom  I  never  could  learn  any 
thing,  and  whom  I  have  reason  to  believe  is  dead."  He 
then  goes  on  to  name  his  five  children  at  that  day  by  his 
second  wife,  of  whom  they  subsequently  lost  the  eldest 
daughter,  Eleanor,  by  a  casualty,  and  prior  to  his  death 
three  years  later,  two  more  were  born  to  them,  a  son  and 
daujrhter,  making  eight  in  all. 

Mr.  Labeaume's  children  were,  by  his  first  wife,  Adelaide 
Dutemple :  — 

1.  Marie  Louise  Lucille,  born  in  France  in  1788;  mar- 
ried to  Albert  Tison,  also  from  France,  on  May  1,  1806,  in 
St.  Louis. 

2.  Pierre  Auguste,  born  in  France  in  1790  ;  was  married 
first  to  Elizabeth  A.  McPhersou,  in  St.  Louis,  January  9, 
1827  ;  and  secondly, — 

And  by  his  second  wife,  Susanne  Dubreuil,  all  born  in 
St.  Louis :  — 

3.  Louis  Alexander,  who  married  in  France  Miss  Melanie 
Lapierre. 

4.  Theodore,  married  in  St.  Louis,  Miss  Eliza  A.  Ham- 
mond. 

5.  Louis  Tarteron,  married  Miss  Mary  — 

6.  Susan,  married,  May  1,  1824,  Mr.  Jonas  Newman, 
merchant  from  Kentucky. 

7.  Charles  Edmond,  married  Isadora  Shaw,  of  Vincennes. 

8.  Eugenia,  married  Peter  E.  Blow,  merchant  of  St. 
Louis. 


APPENDIX.  469 


ALBEKT   TI80N, 

born  in  France,  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1793.  He  lived  for 
several  years  in  the  family  of  Governor  Trudeau,  and  was 
attached  to  his  administration  during  the  whole  time. 

He  married  on  May  1,  1800,  Marie  Louise  Lucille,  the 
eldest  child  of  Louis  Labeaume,  born  in  France.  They 
were  the  parents  of :  — 

Adele,  married  to  Theo.  L.  McGill,  of  St.  Louis  and 
New  Orleans,  August  9,  1823. 

Rosalie,  unmarried. 

Lucille,  married  to  Thos.  S.  Rutheribrd,  December  18, 
1840. 

Caroline,  married  to  John  Birkenbine,  June  14,  1838. 

Hypolite,  whose  wife  was  Miss  Miller. 

Augustus. 

PIEKUE  CHARLES  DEHAULT  DELASSUS    ET  DE    DELUZIERE, 

Knight  of  the  Grand  Cross  of  the  Royal  Order  of  St. 
Michael,  with  his  wife,  Madame  Domitille  Josepha  Dumont 
Danzin  de  Beaufort,  of  the  ancient  nobility  of  the  town  of 
Bouchaine,  in  Hainault,  French  Flanders,  northern  part  of 
France,  came  away  from  their  native  place,  where  their 
ancestors  had  lived  from  time  immemorial,  during  the  early 
period  of  the  French  Revolution.  They  arrived  at  New 
Orleans  about  the  year  1794  and  after  a  time  they  came  up 
to  Ste.  Genevieve,  and  established  and  located  themselves 
at  New  Bourbon,  contiguous  to  Ste.  Genevieve.  Their  chil- 
dren were  at  the  time,  Chas.  Dehault  Delassus,  a  colonel  in 
the  service  of  Spain,  their  oldest  son  ;  another  James  M.  C. 
Delassus,  already  mentioned  in  these  annals,  and  a  third 
Camillus  Delassus,  then  a  young  man.  If  there  were  other 
sons  or  daughters  their  names  are  not  found  in  our  St.  Louis 


470  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

archives.  Governor  Trudeau  made  them  a  concession  of 
land  for  the  support  of  the  family,  and  the  old  gentleman 
was  appointed  civil  magistrate  of  the  place,  which  position 
he  filled  until  the  transfer  of  the  country  to  the  United  States 
in  1804.1 

Cnmillus  Delassus  married  in  due  time  and  raised  a 
family.  A  daughter,  Odille,  was  married  June  5,  1822,  at 
Ste.  Genevieve,  to  Silvestro  S.  Pnitte,  the  oldest  son  of 
Gen.  B.  Pratte,  Sr.,  of  St.  Louis.  He  died,  without 
children,  in  the  mountains  at  the  head  waters  of  the  Platte 
in  June,  1828,  and  his  widow  afterwards  married  Louis 
Valle,  of  Ste.  Genevieve,  who  died  September  24,  1833, 
and  she  herself  about  the  year  1864,  without  children  by 
either  husband. 

The  two  sons  of  Camille  D.  Delassus,  Leon  and  Paul, 
had  each  a  large  family  of  children. 

Old  Deluziere  and  his  lady  both  died  at  New  Bourbon, 
before  Frank  Valle's  day,  from  whom  I  obtain  taese  par- 
ticulars, now  over  fifty  years  since. 

JAMKS    MARCELLIN    CERAN    DEHAULT    DELASSUS  DE  ST.  VRAIN, 

was  the  second  son  of  Delassus  de  Luziere,  born  at 
at  Bouchaine  in  Hainault,  French  Flanders,  in  the  year 
1770.  He  came  to  Louisiana  with  his  father's  family  in 
1794,  and  settled  with  them  at  New  Bourbon,  near  St. 
Genevieve.  He  had  been  in  the  French  naval  service  prior 
to  their  revolution,  and  for  a  time  had  command  of  a  Span- 
ish galliot  on  the  upper  Mississippi. 

April  30,  1796,  he  married  Marie  Felicite  Chauvet 
Dubreuil,  a  daughter  of  Louis  Chauvet  Dubreuil,  deceased, 
of  St.  Louis,  and  established  his  home  at  the  Spanish  Pond, 


'  The  two  oldest  sons  are  noticed  elsewhere  In  the  Annals. 


APPENDIX. 


471 


twelve  miles  north  ot  the  city  on  the  road  to  the  old  Bellefon- 
taine  Fort,  then  a  noted  point  in  our  ancient  annals,  which 
he  handsomely  improved. 

He  died  here  on  June  22, 1818,  aged  forty-eight  years  ;  his 
sons  were  Charles,  Savury,  Felix,  Ceran,  Domitille,  etc., 
with  several  daughters. 

AUGU8TIN,  CHARLES  FKEMON,  DELAURIERE, 

Lord  of  Bouffay  and  Des  Croix,  born  in  the  parish  of  St. 
Pere  Curet,  Nantes,  Republic  of  France,  came  to  St.  Louis 
in  1796,  and  lived  in  Ste.  Genevieve  from  that  time  until 
1802,  as  Greffier  (Recorder).  He  then  gave  up  the  position 
to  enable  him  to  attend  to  his  business  as  a  manufacturer  of 
salt. 

May  21,  1799,  he  married  Josephine  Celeste  Chauvet 
Dubreuil,  daughter  of  Louis  Chauvet  Dubreuii,  deceased,  of 
St.  Louis.     They  raised  a  number  of  children. 

Geo.  Y.  Bright,  from  Lexington,  Ky.,  married  their 
eldest  daughter,  Miss  Susan  C.  A.  Fremon,  Dec.  10th,  1818, 
audsix  weeks  afterwards,  Jan.  21, 1819,  their  second  daugh- 
ter. Miss  C.  O.  Fremon,  was  married  to  Richard  M.  Duval, 
from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  by  Bishop  Dul)ourg. 

Another  daughter  married  Lucius  Phipps. 

Their  sons  were,  Du  Bouffay  Fremon,  Auguste,  Leon  and 
some  other  sons  and  daughters.  They  had  dropped  the 
Delauriere,  and  were  afterwards  called  simply  "  Fremon." 

ANTOINE  PIERRE  80ULARD, 

son  of  Henry  Francois  Soulard  and  Marie  Francoise 
Leroux,  was  born  in  Rochefort,  province  of  Aunis,  France, 
In  the  year  1766.  His  father  had  been  a  lieutenant  in  the 
French  navy,  and  he  himself  had  adopted  the  same  profes- 


472  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

sion,  and  had  attained  the  grade  of  sub-lieutenant  when  he 
left  the  French  service  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
17}>4,  coming  out  to  St.  Louis  the  same  year,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  '•  King's  Surveyor"  for  upper 
Louisiana,  which  office  he  held  until  the  transfer  to  the 
United  States  in  1804. 

Mr.  Soulard  was  married  on  Nov.  16,  1795,  to  Miss 
Marie  Julie  Ccrre,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Gabriel  Cerrc, 
merchant  of  St.  Louis. 

Ho  died  Nov.  9,  1825,  aged  fifty-nine  years,  and  Mrs. 
Soulard,  May  9,  1845,  in  her  seventieth  year. 

Their  children  were:  — 

1.  James  G.,  born  in  1797,  married  March  20,  1820,  to 
Miss  Eliza  N.,  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Tlios.  Hunt,  United 
States  army. 

2.  Henry  G.,  born  May,  1801,  to  Miss  Lane,  daughter  of 
Doctor  Harvey  Lane,  formerly  of  St.  Genevieve. 

3.  Eliza,  born ,  died  Feb.  3,  1845,  unmarried. 

4.  Benjamin  A., born married    Miss 

Closey,  Pittsburg. 

FHANCI8  M,   BENOIT,  SR., 

a  fur  merchant,  son  of  Louis  Antoine  Benoit  and  Mirie 
Rouse  Snmande,  born  in  Quebec,  in  1768,  married  Marie 
Catherine  Sanguinet  in  St.  Louis,  Nov.  22,  1798.  He  died 
Oct.  21,  1819.  Aged  fifty-one  years,  leaving  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  and  his  widow  Dec.  8,  1859,  in  her  seventy- 
ninth  year. 

1.  Francis,  Jr.,  born  1799,  died  in  Louisiana. 

2.  Louis  A.  (Conde),  Aug.  13,  1803,  and  died  Jan.  17, 
1867,  at  sixty-four;  first  wife  Miss  Barton,  two  children; 
second.  Miss  Hackney,  five  children;  third.  Miss  Wilson, 
eight  children,  fifteen  in  all. 

3.  Saniiuint't,  1805,  to  Miss  Dubois;  separated. 


APPENDIX.  473 

4.  Adeline,  1807,  to  .las.  M.  Riley  at  Liberty,  Sept.  20, 
1831. 

5.  Amanda,  1809,  to  Cyrus  Curtis,  March  27,  1827. 


FRANCIS    nARROUSEL, 

born  in  Cape  Francois,  Island  of  St.  Dominjijo,  a  refuj^ee 
from  that  island  at  the  negro  insurrection  of  1793,  came  to 
Baltimore,  and  established  himself  in  business  there  with 
Nicholas  Lesconfliiires.  In  1796-97  he  came  to  St.  Louis 
on  business.  He  executed  his  will  before  Governor  Tru- 
deau,  dated  April  18,  1797,  in  which  ho  names  his  friend, 
Charles  Gratiot,  of  St.  Louis,  his  executor,  directs  him 
to  pay  his  debts  in  Philadelphia,  to  John  West,  $354, 
and  to  John  Mallett,  $4.55;  and  being  unmarried,  and 
no  family,  he  leaves  his  partner  the  balance  of  his  in- 
terest in  the  store ;  and  to  his  brothers  and  sisters  his 
claims  for  indemnity  on  St.  Domingo  and  his  property  in 
France.     He  died  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  July  31,  1797. 

This  Mr.  Barrousel  was  the  grand  uncle  of  the  late  Ed- 
ward P.  Tesson,  of  St.  Louis,  whose  mother  was  a  niece 
of  Barrousel. 

JOHN   P.    CABANNE, 

Merchant,  son  of  Jean  Cabanne  and  Jeanne  Dutilh,  his 
wife,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Pau,  Bearne,  France,  Octo- 
ber 18,  1773,  and  came  a  young  man  to  New  Orleans, 
where  he  remained  for  a  time,  and  then  came  up  to  St. 
Louis,  in  the  year  1798. 

He  married  Julia,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Charles  Gratiot, 
merchant,  born  July  24,  1782,  on  April  8,  1799. 

He  died  June  27,  1841,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  and  Mrs, 
Cabanne,  April  14,  1852,  in  her  seventieth  year.  Their 
children  were :  — 


474  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

1.  Batiste    Gregoiro,  bom  February   8,    1800,   died  in 
1801. 

2.  Jeiiaiie  Victoire,  bora  November  Iti,  lb03,  ulao  died 
young. 

3.  Adelle,  born  in  1805,  was  married  to  John  B.  Sarpy, 
No.  2,  on  September  U,  1820,  -and  died  March  27,  1832, 
aged  twenty-seven. 

4.  John  Charles,  born  November  4,  180B,  married  to 
Virginia,  second  daughter  of  Judge  Wm.  C.  Carr,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1835.  He  died  on  July  17,  1854,  leaving  three 
sons  ;  the  eldest,  John  Pierre,  died,  unmarried,  April  18, 
18(53,  aged  twenty-six  years ;  the  two  others,  J.  C.  and  S. 
C.  Cubanne,  both  married,  with  families,  and  their  mother, 
the  widow,  are  living. 

5.  Augustus  Eneas,  born  March  28,  1808,  died  January 
23, 1825,  aged  seventeen  years. 

6.  Julia  A.,  born  July  8,  1809,  married  to  Lieut.  James 
W.  Kingsbury,  U.  S.  A.,  May  25,  1830.  She  died  in 
1836,  and  Capt.  K.  in  1854,  and  their  only  son,  Julius,  was 
killed  by  lightning  in  18()8,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two.  Their 
two  daughters,  Mrs.  Givervillo  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Waterman, 
both  widows,  are  living. 

7.  Louisa,  born  August  12,  1811,  was  married  to  Lieut. 
Albert  G.  Edwards,  U.  S.  A.,  April  28,  1835.  She  died 
August  4,  1841,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  her  infant  son 
in  his  third  year,  having  preceded   her  about  twenty  days. 

8.  Lucien  Dutilh,  born  July  28,  1814,  married  Miss 
Susan  Shepard.  He  died  April  10,  1875,  in  his  sixty-first 
year,  leaving  but  one  son.  Dr.  Shepard  Cabanne. 

9.  Francis,  born  January  1,  1816,  died,  unmarried,  No- 
Yeml)er  9,  1876,  in  his  sixty-first  year. 

10.  Louis  Julius,  born  February  22,  1818,  was  married 
to  Stella  McNair,  November  24,  1846,  and  died  up  the 
Mississippi,  leaving  several  children. 

11.  Isabella,  born  in  1820,  died  an  infant. 


APPENDIX.  475 

Mr.  John  P.  Cabanne,  Sr.,  was  prominent   in  the  fur 
trade  of  St.  Louia  for  exceeding  forty  yours. 


MARIE    PHILLIPPK    LEDUO, 

was  born  in  St.  Denis,  Paris,  in  1772.  When  a  young  man 
he  ctune  over  to  Louisiunu  with  liis  mother  and  two  hrotliors 
and  rcnmined  for  some  time  at  Now  Orleans,  and  then  came 
up  to  New  Madrid  in  1793. 

When  Governor  Delassus  relieved  Portell  in  the  command 
at  Now  Madrid,  in  1796,  he  employed  Leduc  as  his  private 
secretary,  and  in  1799,  when  appointed  lieutenant-governor 
of  this  upper  Louisiana,  Leduc  came  with  him  to  St.  Louis  as 
secretary  of  the  province,  and  continued  to  serve  in  vari- 
ous civil  positions  for  the  balance  of  his  protracted  life  of 
seventy  years. 

On  August  30,  1802,  he  was  married  to  Marguerite,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Jos.  M.  Papin.  She  died  April  1,  1808, 
after  a  brief  married  life  of  less  than  six  years,  having  lost 
two  infant  sons,  and  leaving  a  third  child,  a  daugliler,  Zoe, 
born  in  1807,  who  lived  to  become  a  young  lady  of  sixteen 
years,  completing  her  education,  and  then  died  on  May  6, 
1823,  thus  leaving  the  sorely  afflicted  old  gentleman  with- 
out kinsmen,  —  his  last  brother,  Joseph  Leduc,  had  died  in 
St.  Louis,  May  21,  1810,  at  the  age  of  forty-two. 

He  devoted  the  balance  of  his  life  to  public  usefulness, 
filling  the  various  positions  of  recorder,  alderman,  justice 
of  the  peace,  notary,  clerk  of  the  circuit  and  county 
courts,  judge  of  probate,  member  of  the  legislature,  etc., 
discharging  all  his  duties  with  ability  and  to  the  general 
satisfaction. 

Judge  Leduc  died  at  the  reaidence  of  his  brother-in-law, 
Hy polite  Papin,  at  Cote  Brilliante,  Monday,  August  15, 
1842,  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy  years. 


470  ANNAL8  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


DOCT.    ANTOINK    FBANCOIH   HAUOIiAIN, 

was  born  in  tli«  cjMiter  of  Piiris,  called  Islo  do  la  Cite  in  Feb- 
ruary, 17(53.  His  paternal  ancoHtors  wore  book-sollcrH  for 
nearly  two  centuries.  He  was  a  chemist  and  minoraloj^irtt, 
and  when  u  young  man  of  a<^o,  about  ITSi-H/),  he  wont  in  the 
aerviuo  of  the  king  of  Spain,  to  examine  into  the  minus  and 
mineral  productions  of  Mexico,  from  which  he  returned  to 
France  the  same  year,  1785.  In  17H(),  he  went  again  to 
Mexico  and  returned  to  France.  In  1787,  ho  went  to  the 
United  Slates,  accompanied  by  two  young  Parisian  friends, 
M.  Pique,  a  botanist,  and  M.  Ragiict,  bearing  a  letter  of  in- 
troduction to  Doct.  Franklin,  from  Mr.  Le  Veillard,  an 
old  Parisian  friend  of  tl»e  doctor,  as  per  the  doctor's 
reply:  — 

"  PiiiLADKLPiiiA,  February  17,  1788. 
♦•  To  M.  Le  Veillard: 

"  My  Deaii  Friend  —  I  received  your  kind  letter  of  June 
23d,  by  Mr.  Saugrain,  and  it  is  the  last  of  yours  that  is 
come  to  my  hands.  I  find  Mr.  Saugrain  to  answer  well  the 
good  character  you  give  of  him,  and  shall  with  pleasure 
render  him  any  services  in  my  power.  He  is  now  gone 
down  the  Ohio  to  reconnoitre  that  country,  «fec.,  &c. 

"  Benj.  Franklin." 

After  remaining  a  time  in  Philadelphia,  he,  in  the  winter 
of  1787-88,  being  then  twenty-four  years  of  age,  proceeded 
with  his  two  young  French  companions,  Messrs.  Pique  and 
Raguet,  to  Pittsburg.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1788,  having 
been  joined  there  by  an  American,  a  Mr.  Pierce,  the  four 
left  Pittsburg  in  a  flat  boat,  or  broad  horn,  then  so  called, 
with  their  horses  and  I)a<x2a<;e,  to  descend  to  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio,  now  Louisville.  "  We  got  along  very  well  for  some 
days,  but  about  March  24th,  when  opposite  the  Big  Miami 


AIM'KNDIX.  177 

River,  wo  wore  Hudilonly  Hrod  into  by  a  party  of  IixlianH, 
liiddoii  boliind  uii  old  Hat  boat  that  lay  a<;roiiiid  on  the 
north  Hhore.  This  Hrxt  diMchaijfo  wounded  Mr.  Fi(|ue 
aovorcly  in  tho  head,  UIIUmI  one  of  our  liorsoH,  woundod 
anothoi',  wiilch  in  lalling,  fell  upon  Mr.  Saugrain'H  l«>ft 
hand,  crushing  his  forotingor,  and  yolling  to  uh  to  laud, 
but  hoping  to  oscapo  thuni  we  continuod  on  our  course 
I)urrtUud  l>y  tho  ludiauH  in  their  canooH.  Seeing  wo  niUHt 
bo  overtaken,  we  jun)|)ed  overboard,  hoping  to  roaeh  tho 
K«'ntucky  slioro  and  (!Hoapo  to  tho  woods.  Mr.  I'iqiic, 
liadly  wounded,  wan  drowned  in  the  attempt.  Mr.  Ruguot, 
on  reaching  shore,  encountered  two  on  tho  watch  for  ua, 
who  soon  despatched  and  scalped  him.  Mr.  Pierce  and 
myself  escaped  to  land,  but  wore  pursued  and  captured  by 
the  two  who  had  killed  M.  Raguet,  who  bound  our  hands 
and  started  after  our  boat  which  the  others  had  taken. 
During  the  next  night  1  contrived  to  loosen  my  hands 
while  our  captors  were  sound  asleop,  we  stole  away 
quietly,  keeping  in  the  woods  down  tho  river,  in  hopes  ot 
being  overtaken  by  a  desceutling  boat.  After  tiirce  <lays' 
severe  sutlering,  nearly  famished,  barefoot,  frosted  feet, 
left  hand  disabled,  a  slight  guu-siiot  wound  in  tho  nock 
which  bled  profusely.  On  the  third  day,  the  27th,  to  our 
groat  delight,  wo  were  overtaken  by  two  boats,  the  hands 
of  which  waded  ashore,  carried  us  on  board,  and  did  all 
they  could  to  relieve  us.  In  two  more  days,  March  29Lh  in 
tho  evening,  we  were  landed  at  Louisville. 

"On  the  next  day,  March  30th,  I  was  taken  over  tho 
river  to  tho  Anjorican  fort  at  Clarksville  for  better  care, 
where  I  was  cordially  wolconicd  by  Major  Willis  and  his 
officers  of  the  garrison  and  placed  in  the  caro  of  the  sur- 
geon of  the  post.  I  remained  here  till  May  11th,  six 
weeks,  by  which  time  I  was  pretty  well  restored,  except 
my  disabled  finger,  and  one  of  my  feet,  small  portions  of 
which  had  been  amputated  from  tho  etfects  of  the  frost." 


478  ANNALS  OF  ST.  L0UI8. 

In  the  summer  of  1788  Doct.  Saugrain  returned  to 
Philadelphia  and  to  France. 

Keraaining  in  France  the  eventful  year  1789,  Doct. 
Saugrain  sailed  again  for  the  United  States  in  April,  1790, 
on  the  same  vessel  with  a  number  of  the  French  emigrants 
destined  for  the  new  settlement  of  Galliopolis,  Gallia 
County,  Ohio.  They  landed  at  Alexandria,  on  the  Potomac, 
July  6th,  came  by  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  Redstone 
(Brownsville),  to  the  Monongahela,  and  descended  that 
river  and  the  Alleghany  to  their  destination,  where  they 
arrived  in  the  fall. 

Doct.  Saugrain  resided  for  six  years  in  Galliopolis 
where  he  married  his  wife  in  1793,  in  Kanawha  County, 
Virginia,  just  opposite,  removed  to  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
in  1796,  where  his  two  eldest  daughters  were  born,  and  in 
the  year  1800,  accompanied  by  the  family  of  his  father-in- 
law,  John  Michau,  Sr.,they  came  to  St.  Louis.  Doct. 
Antoine  F.  Saugrain,  born  at  Paris,  February,  1763, 
and  Genevieve  Rosalie  Michau,  born  at  Paris,  July  23, 
1776,  were  married  in  Kanawha  County,  Virginia,  opposite 
Galliopolis,  Ohio,  on  March  20,  1793. 

Their  children  were :  — 

1.  Rosalie  Saugrain,  born  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  June 
22,  1797,  married  to  Henry  Von  Phul,  in  St.  Louis,  June 
10,  1816. 

2.  Eliza  Maria,  born  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  October 
12, 1799,  married  to  James  Kenuerly,  St.  Louis,  June  10, 
1817. 

3.  Alphonse  Alfred,  born  in  St.  Louis,  February  3, 1803. 

4.  Frederic,  born  March  24,  1806. 

5.  Henrietta  Theresa,  November  27,  1808,  married 
to  Thomas  Noel,  June  14,  1827. 

6.  Eugenie,  born  October  9,  1813,  married  to  John  W. 
Reel. 


APPENDIX.  479 

Doct.  Antoine  F.  Saugniin  died  in  St.  Louis,  May  19, 
1820,  aged  fifty-seven,  and  his  widow,  Mrs.  Saugrain,  July 
13,  1860,  aged  eighty-four. 


JOHN   MICHAU,  SR., 

son  of  Andrew  Michau,  master  saddler,  and  wife,  Marie 
Louise  Bailleul,  born  in  Cross  Street,  of  Little  Fields,  Paris, 
Friday,  March  27,  1739,  and 

Jeanne  Genevieve  Rosalie,  daughter  of  Jean  Francois 
Chevallier,  master  painter,  and  wife  Genevieve  Francoise 
Chavard,  born  in  Bailleul  Street,  Paris,  Sunday,  July  16, 
1752,  were  married  in  that  city  in  1775,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  for  the  next  fifteen  years,  and  where  all 
their  children  but  one  were  born. 

In  the  year  1790  Mr.  Michau,  with  his  family  of  wife, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters,  came  over  to  the  United 
States  with  the  emigration  from  that  city  to  establish  them- 
selves at  Galliopolis,  Ohio,  where  they  arrived  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  and  located  themselves.  Here  they  resided  for 
the  next  ten  yeai's,  during  which  a  third  son  was  born  to 
them,  and  the  eldest  daughter,  Rosalie,  was  married. 

In  May,  1791,  Mr.  Michau,  being  a  well  educated  man, 
was  appointed  by  Winthrop  Sargeant,  the  secretary  and 
acting  governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  His  commission  is  dated  at  Galliopolis  May  7  of  that 
year.  In  the  year  1800  the  two  families,  Michau  and  Saug- 
rain, came  together  to  St.  Louis  and  became  permanent 
residents  of  the  place.     Their  children  were:  — 

1.  Genevieve  Rosalie,  born  July  23,  1776  ;  married  March 
20,  1793,  at  Galliopolis,  to  Doct.  Antoine  F.  Saugrain. 

2.  Marie  Eleonore,  born  November  20,  1777  ;  died  Sep- 
tember 1,  1818,  at  St.  Louis. 

5.  Sophia  Mary,  born  February  22,  1786 ;  married  De- 


480  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

cember  24,  1805,  at  St.  Louis,  to  Dr.  John  Hamilton  Rob- 
inson ; 

3.  John  A.lexandcr,  born  July  4,  1781. 

4.  Melchior  Amand  Fidele,  born  July  4,  1783. 
6.  Antoine  Aristide,  born  July  17,  1792. 

Mr.  John  Michau,  Sr.,died  in  St.  Louis,  June  29,  1819, 
aged  eighty-one  years.  His  wife,  Mrs.  John  Michau,  Sr., 
had  died  at  Galliopolis,  date  not  preserved. 


PIERRE   PROVENCHERE,  SR. 

Among  those  who  fled  from  France  during  the  reign  of 
terror,  to  seek  safety  in  foreign  climes,  and  who  found  his 
final  home  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  the 
ablance  of  his  days,  was  Pierre  Provenchere.  He  was  born 
as  we  have  it  from  the  best  authority;  (Relf's  Philadelphia 
Gazette,  Jan'y  26,  1831)  in  the  City  of  Orleans,  France,  on 
February  29  1740,  "  held  a  position  in  the  household  of 
•♦the  brother  of  Louis  XVI.  the  Compto  D'Artois,  after- 
"  wards  Charles  the  X,  as  preceptor  to  his  second  son  the 
♦*  Duke  of  Berri,  when  a  youth,"  and  had  always  been  held 
by  the  royal  family  of  France  in  proper  respect  and  con- 
sideration. He  died  in  Philadelphia  where  he  resided  for 
more  than  thirty  years  on  ./anuary  19,  1831,  in  the  ninety- 
first  year  of  his  age.     His  son. 


ANTOINE    NICHOLAS    PIERRE, 

I  believe  the  only  one,  was  born  in  France  on  September, 
13,  1769,  and  came  to  St.  Louis  a  few  years  before  the 
transfer  of  the  country  to  the  United  States.  He  was 
married  here  on  July  9,  1803,  to  Miss  Mary  Jeronima 
Rutgers,  daughter  of  Arend  Rutgers,  from  Dortrecht,  Hol- 
land, a  merchant  of  St.  Louis. 


APPENDIX.  481 

Mr.  Provenchere  died  ut  his  residence,  South  Second 
Street,  below  Chouteau  Avenue,  on  September  8,  1824,  in 
his  fifty-fitth  year  —  leaving  three  daughters  and  a  son. 
Mrs.  Provenchere  survived  her  husband  forty-five  years, 
and  died  on  June  11,  1869,  in  her  eighty-sixth  year,  in  the 
same  house. 

1.  Amelia  Mary,  was  married  to  George  Maguire  Ex- 
Mayor,  November  26,  1833,  both  now  deceased.  They  had 
but  one  daughter,  Mary,  the  first  wife  of  Charles  W.  Fran- 
cis, Health  Commissioner. 

2.  Eliza,  married  to  Frederick  Saugrain,  November  2, 
1835.  She  died  March  25,  1868,  leaving  one  son,  Anthony 
Pierre,  who  died  a  young  man  May  1,  1882,  and  two 
daughters  the  wives  respectively  of  Wm.  H.  H.  Pettus  and 
John  Waddell. 

3.  Eulalie,  the  first  wife  of  Saugrain  Robinson.  She  died 
in  1840,  leaving  but  one  daughter,  Mary. 

4.  The  son,  Ferdinand  Provenchere,  born  March  3,  1808, 
married  the  widow  of  Alfred  Saugrain  and  died  Sept.  23, 
1878,  in  his  seventy-first  year,  leaving  a  number  of  sons  and 
daughters. 

MR.    AREND    RUTGERS 

came  here  from  Dortrecht  Holland  at  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century,  with  a  wife  and  two  daughters,  ♦^^he  Mrs. 
Provenchere,  above,  and  Miss  Sally,  who  never  married.  He 
was  a  noted  man  in  his  day,  acquired  property,  and  Rutgers 
Street  was  named  for  him,  running  through  his  property. 

CHARLES  GRATIOT,  SR., 

the  only  son  of  David  Gratiot  and  Marie  Bernard,  was 
born  at  Lausanne,  Canton  of  Vaud,  Switzerland,  in  the  year 
1752  ;  his  paternal  ancestors  were  French  Protestants,  who 
had  taken  refuge  there  from  the  persecutions  of  the  Catho- 

31 


482  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

lies,  consequent  upon  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantz 
by  Louis  XIV.  in  1685. 

He  received  his  early  education  at  that  place,  and  when 
yet  a  youth  in  his  teens,  was  sent  by  his  parents  to  an  uncle 
Bernard  in  London,  a  brother  of  his  mother,  established  in 
that  city  in  business,  with  his  uncle  he  remained  some 
years.  In  the  year  1769,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years, 
he  came  over  to  Canada  to  be  employed  in  the  house  of  his 
Montreal  uncle,  Bernard,  another  brother  of  his  mother, 
engaged  largely  there  in  trade  with  the  Indians  of  the 
^Northwest. 

1769,  April  2nd,  he  sailed  from  London  on  the  ship 
Layton,  and  arrived  at  Quebec,  Canada,  on  May  30th, 
after  a  tolerably  favorable  voyage  of  60  days.  Here  he 
met  his  uncle  Bernard,  of  Montreal,  expecting  the  arrival 
of  the  ship. 

June  9.  — After  ten  days  at  Quebec,  loading  his  uncle's 
goods  on  a  boat,  he  went  up  to  Montreal  by  water,  then 
about  seventeen  years  of  age. 

He  remained  in  Montreal  about  five  years,  most  of  the 
time  with  his  uncle  as  a  clerk  learning  the  Indian  trade,  he 
being  yet  a  minor  under  the  laws  of  France,  and  under  the 
control  of  his  uncle. 

When  he  came  to  America  in  1769,  he  was  an  only  child  ; 
in  his  second  letter  to  his  parents  from  Montreal  in  August, 
1770,  after  he  had  been  there  fourteen  months,  he  ex- 
presses his  great  joy  at  the  receipt  of  the  first  letter  from 
them  of  March  9th  preceding,  1770,  in  which  they  inform 
him  of  the  birth  of  a  sister,  his  first  and  only  one,  a  differ- 
ence of  seventeen  years  in  their  ages  ;  and  in  nil  his  subse- 
quent letters  to  his  parents  he  never  failed  to  expresss  his 
brotherly  affection  for  her.  This  pister,  Isabella,  he  saw 
for  the  first  time,  when  he  revisite<i  his  native  place  in  the 
winter  of  1791-92,  when  she  had  become  a  young  woman  of 
twenty-two  years,  and  he  in  his  fortieth  year. 


APPENDIX.  483 

1774.  —  He  spent  this  summer  in  a  business  trip  for  his 
uncle  to  the  "  upper  country  "  (at  that  day  this  meant  all 
the  country  north  and  west  of  Kingston  at  the  foot  of  Lake 
Ontario,  including  all  the  lakes  and  rivers  to  the  Missis- 
sippi), as  far  as  Michilimackinac,  the  uppermost  trading 
post,  and  the  Illinois  country  on  the  Mississippi,  returning 
to  Montreal  September  30th,  then  twenty-two  years  of  age. 

1775.  —  About  May  1st,  he  left  Montreal  on  his  first 
trading  adventure  for  himself,  associated  with  a  partner 
whose  name  is  not  given,  with  an  outfit  of  goods  furnished 
them  by  his  uncle  Bernard  and  another  merchant  of  that 
place  (then  23).  They  wintered  1775-76  among  the  tribes 
with  whom  they  traded,  and  got  back  to  Montreal  at  the 
end  of  August,  1776,  absent  sixteen  months. 

This  first  adventure  was  unsuccessful  from  his  partner's 
extravagant  expenditures  and  heavy  losses,  leaving  them 
largely  in  debt,  resulting  in  an  open  rupture  with  his  uncle 
Bernard. 

1776.  —  He  spent  another  year  in  Montreal  endeavoring 
to  settle  up  this  first  adventure,  and  effecting  preparations 
for  a  second  one. 

1777.  —  He  left  Montreal  in  August  for  the  Illinois 
country,  where  be  had  been  very  successful  for  his  uncle  in 
1774.  He  had  formed  a  trading  connection  in  Montreal 
with  three  others,  all  experienced  in  the  Indian  trade,  John 
Kay  and  David  McCrae,  two  Scotchmen,  and  —  Barthe  and 
himself,  two  Swiss.  They  had  procured  the  largest  portion 
of  their  goods  through  the  house  of  William  Kay,  elder 
brother  of  John,  an  established  merchant  of  Montreal.  They 
reached  Mackinac  in  September,  where  his  first  entry  is  made 
in  his  ledger  on  September  24th  as  "  David  McCrae  &  Co.," 
passing  up  to  Green  Bay  in  October,  by  the  portage  and 
Prairie  du  Chien  in  Noveml)er,  he  arrived  in  Cahokia  at 
the  close  of  November,  where  he  opened  hi?  store  early  in 
December.    His  partners,  being  Indian  traders,  had  stopped 


484  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 

at  various  places  on  the  route  to  pursue  the  trade  (then 
25)  ;  shortly  afterward  they  opei  ed  another  store  at  Kas- 
kaskiu. 

1778.  —  His  first  spring  and  summer  in  Cahokia,  Mr. 
Gratiot  devoted  his  leisure  time  in  instructing  a  number  of 
persons  how  to  prepare  leaf  tobacco  into  carrots  as  it  is  im- 
ported into  Montreal,  and  induced  a  number  to  embark  in 
its  cultivation  as  very  profitable. 

July  4.  —  Mr.  Gratiot  had  been  seven  months  located  at 
Cahokia,  when  on  this  day  Geo.  Rogers  Clark  surprised 
KaskasUia. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  Gratiot  wrote  a  long  letter  to 
his  father,  and  his  first  one  to  his  little  sister,  Isabella, 
then  nine  years  old. 

Mr.  Barthe,  his  Swiss  partner,  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
with  whom  he  was  trading  in  the  winter  of  1778-79. 

1779.  — In  this  year  Mr.  G.  had  a  trading  station  on  the 
Illinois  river  at  the  Indian  village  of  Ouyatanon,  at  or  near 
the  present  site  of  Peoria.  After  Clark's  occupation  of  the 
country,  Gratiot,  from  his  kuowledgej  of  the  English  and 
French  languages,  and  his  influence  with  the  people  of 
the  district,  and  near  the  same  age,  became  very  intimate 
with  him,  and  although  holding  no  oflicial  position,  yet 
from  his  influence  and  knowledge,  had  much  to  do  with  the 
affairs  of  the  time,  and  was  usually  consulted  on  important 
matters  of  a  public  natui'e. 

In  December  there  was  an  alarm  at  Cahokia  concerning 
some  Indians  encamped  at  the  Cantine,  about  ten  miles 
northeast  of  the  village,  supposed  to  be  Wabash  Indians 
and  hostile.  On  December  16th  Mr.  Gratiot  wrote  to  Col. 
Montgomery,  the  American  commandant  at  Kaskaskia,  in 
relation  to  this  alarm. 

1780.  —  In  April,  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  having 
received  an  intimation  that  a  large  force  of  Indians,  led  by 
British  oflficers,  vere  on  their  way  to  endeavor  to  surprise 


APPENDIX.  485 

and  recapture  the  place,  held  a  meeting  and  requested  Mr. 
Gratiot  to  go  in  search  of  Col.  Clark,  then  at  Fort  Jefferson , 
at  the  iron  l)anks  in  Kentucky,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio, 
to  request  him  to  come  to  their  assistance.  This  Mr. 
Gratiot  undertook,  but  returned  from  his  mission  un^suc- 
cessful,  Clark  having  gone  to  Louisville  by  order  of  the 
governor  of  Virginia. 

The  surprise  of  the  British  side  of  the  Illinois  country,  and 
the  immediate  establishment  of  the  authority  of  the  State 
of  Virginia  over  the  same,  with  the  death  of  Mr.  Barthe, 
one  of  the  partners,  seems  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  firm  of 
David  McCrae  &  Co.,  as  we  see  nothing  more  of  it,  and  find 
Mr.  Gratiot  operating  alone  after  this  date. 

1781.  —  Early  in  this  year  Mr.  Gratiot  removed  over  to 
St.  Louis  and  became  a  Spanish  subject  to  enable  him  to 
participate  in  the  Indian  trade  of  both  the  Spanish  and 
English  sides  of  the  country,  which  he  could  not  do  as  an 
English  subject. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1783,  Mr.  Gratiot  for  himself, 
his  late  firm  of  McCrae  &  Co.,  and  one  Godfrey  Linctot, 
with  whom  he  had  been  interested  in  several  speculations, 
having  claims  to  a  considerable  amount  against  the  State 
of  Virginia,  which  he  had  been  unsuccessful  in  his  efforts 
to  collect  through  other  parties,  concluded  to  go  himself  to 
Richmond  and  Williamsburg,  hoping  to  meet  with  more 
success  than  those  he  had  previously  employed.  On  this 
trip  Mr.  G.  was  absent  for  over  a  year,  extending  it  as  far 
as  Philadelphia,  the  first  one  from  St.  Louis  to  visit  that 
then  far  distant  city,  and  got  back  to  his  home  in  St.  Louis 
late  in  June,  1784,  the  trip  having  been  made  on  horseback. 
After  this  trip  he  appears  to  have  remained  at  home  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  business  with  varying  success,  until  his  first 
voyage  to  Europe,  in  1791. 

Mr.  Gratiot  had  long  been  ambitious  to  establish  a  house 
in  New  Orleans  in  connection  with  one  in  Europe,  through 


486  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 

which  to  import  from  Europe  the  articles  necessary  for  the 
Indian  trade,  and  to  send  back  through  the  same  channel 
the  returns  from  that  trade. 

In  1791,  having  gathered  together  his  little  capital  in 
money  and  peltries,  he  sailed  from  New  Orleans  in  the  fall 
of  this  year  for  Bordeaux,  with  letters  to  parties  in  that 
city.  From  Bordeaux  he  went  in  October  to  Havre  de 
Grace,  with  letters  to  the  house  of  Amet,  Ronus  &  Co., 
who  suggested  to  him  that  "London  being  the  largest  fur 
market  in  the  world,"  he  had  better  go  there,  and  gave  him 
a  letter  of  introduction  to  Mr.  John  H.  Schneider,  a  mer- 
chant of  that  city,  who  had  amassed  a  handsome  fortune 
from  his  business,  principally  in  the  fur  market ;  here  he 
spent  about  a  month  in  various  interviews  with  Mr.  S.  re- 
lating to  his  contemplated  enterprise. 

At  the  end  of  November  he  went  to  Switzerland,  to 
revisit  his  native  place  and  relatives,  from  whom  he  had 
been  absent  exceeding  twenty-five  years. 

After  remaining  a  couple  of  months  with  his  mother  and 
sister,  and  relatives,  his  father  being  dead,  he  left  Geneva 
January  27th,  1792,  in  the  "diligence,"  reached  Poligny 
next  day,  28th,  and  on  February  4th  reached  Paris,  where 
he  remained  some  days,  and  London  toward  the  close  of 
February,  bringing  with  him  his  cousin  Frederic  (Fritz),  a 
young  lad,  son  of  Charles  Bugnion,  whom  his  father  had 
intrusted  to  his  care  to  bring  to  Ameri.ca,  and  qualify  him 
for  the  Indian  trade.  (Mr.  G.  brought  him  to  St.  Louis, 
and  placed  him  with  Mr.  Aug'te  Chouteau.)  Mr.  Gratiot 
remained  a  couple  of  months  in  London,  arranging  a  plan 
of  operations  with  Mr.  Schneider,  who  acquired  a  great 
ascendancy  over  him,  procured  for  him  a  partner  in  one 
Solomon  Abraham,  a  protege  of  Schneider,  and  furnished 
them  an  outfit  of  goods.  They  sailed  from  London  in 
April  and  arrived  at  Montreal  in  June,  and  in  July  went  on 
up  to  Mackinac,  where,  after   remaining  some  time,  Mr. 


APPENDIX.  487 

Gratiot  got  back  to  his  home  in  St.  Louis  in  November, 
1792,  after  an  alrsenco  of  fourteen  months.  (This  partner- 
ship resulted  in  a  miserable  failure  from  various  causes, 
producing  great  loss  to  all  the  parties.) 

1793.  — Mr.  Gratiot,  having  induced  his  brothers-in-law, 
Auguste  and  Pierre  Chouteau,  then  associated  in  Indian 
trading,  Papin  &  Tabeau,  and  Benito  &  Roy,  to  place  in 
his  charge  their  peltries  to  dispose  of,  and  to  fill  their  orders 
lor  goods  in  London,  left  St.  Louis  late  in  May  for  Mon- 
treal, from  which  place  he  sailed,  at  the  close  of  October 
on  the  ship  Eureta,  and  arrived  at  London  on  December 
15th. 

Here  he  remained  for  more  than  six  months,  listening 
and  agreeing  to  the  various  schemes  and  projects  suggested 
by  Schneider  to  Gratiot,  by  which  G.  would  accumulate  a 
rapid  fortune, — to  furnish  him  the  capital  to  establish  a 
house  in  New  York,  or  St.  Petersburg,  or  Ostend,  etc. 
Gratiot,  who  from  his  great  desire  to  acquire  wealth,  had 
become  coni{)letely  infatuated  with  the  fancied  generosity 
of  Schneider,  listened  eagerly  to  the  various  plans  and 
propositions  of  S.,  who  resorted  to  these  steps  to  detain 
Gratiot  in  London  until  the  arrival  of  Abraham  from  (^an- 
ada  to  learn  the  true  state  of  his  affairs  there  Finally 
Gratiot  began  to  suspect  the  sincerity  of  S.  in  these  various 
schemes,  and  to  open  his  eyes  to  his  own  foolish  credulity, 
when  they  come  to  an  open  rupture  on  May  7,  1794,  and 
Gratiot  determined  to  return  at  once  to  his  home  in  Amer- 
ica. Yet  such  an  ascendancy  had  Schneider  acquired  over 
him  by  his  plausibility  and  I'enewed  offers  of  capital,  that  he 
contrived  to  yet  detain  Gratiot  there  until  June  21,  1794, 
on  which  day  he  sailed  from  London,  and  after  a  passage  of 
sixty-three  days  arrived  at  New  York  August  23d.  On  the 
next  day,  September  24th,  1794,  he  wrote  from  New  York 
to  his  quondam  friend  a  long  letter  in  which  he  narrates  all 
these  occurrences.     After  remaining  a  couple  of  months  in 


488  ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 

Now  York,  he  left  for  home  by  Baltimore  and  Pittsburg, 
and  making  a  quick  trip  of  but  eighteen  days  by  boat  from 
Pittsburg  to  St.  Louis,  ho  reached  his  home  in  January, 
1795,  about  twenty  months  from  May,  1793,  to  January, 
1795,  and  immediately  gave  notice  in  the  Montreal  paper  of 
the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Abraham  &  Gratiot. 

1795.  —  In  May  he  went  down  to  Now  Orleans,  on  his 
way  around  to  New  YTork.  He  sailed  from  New  Orleans 
about  the  middle  of  June  on  the  brigatine  Hanna,  Capt.  W. 
Westcott,  arrived  in  New  York  in  July,  where  he  remained 
about  three  months  until  October,  the  year  in  which  the 
yellow  fever  was  so  fatal  in  that  and  other  Atlantic  cities. 
Ho  left  New  York  for  Baltimore  early  in  October ;  there  to 
Pittsburg  with  his  goods,  where  he  loaded  them  on  a  boat 
he  had  had  built  there,  and  reached  St.  Louis  with  them  in 
January,  1796. 

1796.  — As  his  stock  of  goods  were  only  gotten  home  in 
January  of  this  year,  and  could  not  be  disposed  of  and  re- 
turns received  from  sales  until  1797,  he  had  no  occasion  to 
leave  his  home  this  year.  He  had  become  the  possessor, 
some  years  previously,  of  a  tract  of  land  of  a  league 
square,  four  miles  back  from  the  village  on  the  waters  of 
the  River  des  Peres,  upon  which  he  had  improved  a  small 
farm,  a  house,  orchard,  garden,  etc.,  he  devoted  his  leisure 
in  further  improving,  putting  up  a  mill,  distillery,  etc. 

He  also  received  a  proposition  this  year  from  a  friend, 
Mr.  Collignon,  a  merchant  of  London,  who  made  consign- 
ments of  goods  to  Now  York  and  New  Orleans,  to  give  him 
two  hundred  pounds  sterling  ($1,000)  per  annum,  to  act  as 
his  agent,  in  visiting  these  houses  once  a  year  to  see  after 
his  interests  —  which  Mr.  Gratiot,  who  was  fond  of  roam- 
ing about,  accepted  in  a  letter  of  June  6,  1776,  too  late  to 
receive  a  reply  thereto  this  same  year.  This  proposition, 
however,  was  not  effected,  as  we  find  from  his  ledger  No.  4, 
that  for  the  years  1797  to  1800,  he  was  at  home  carrying  on 


APPENDLX.  489 

his  store  in  St.  Louis,  and  besides  his  mill  and  distillery  on 
his  farm  near  the  village,  ho  was  also  operating  a  tannery 
and  salt  works  on  the  Meramec  River. 

In  1798,  Mr.  Gratiot  obtained  from  Governor-General 
Don  Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos,  at  New  Orleans,  a  conces- 
sion for  his  league  square  near  St.  Louis,  on  which  ho  had 
improved  his  farm  some  years  previously. 

After  his  return  from  his  second  voyage  to  London  in 
1795,  Mr.  Gratiot  being  in  a  great  measure  cured  of  his 
early  desire  to  accumulate  a  rapid  fortune,  settled  himself 
down  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  home  comforts,  content  to 
prosecute  a  moderate  business.  In  this  he  was  successful, 
having  a  good  custom  in  his  retail  store  from  the  Americans, 
who  began  to  come  into  the  country  from  the  Ohio  River 
and  Kentucky,  and  made  the  new  settlements  of  Bon- 
bomme,  Gravois,  and  along  the  Meramec,  besides  acquir- 
ing at  times  a  number  of  tracts  of  land  in  various  parts  of 
the  St.  Louis  district,  by  concessions,  purchases,  and  other 
speculations,  eventually  becoming  the  possessor  of  the  hand- 
some competency  he  had  long  sought,  enabling  him  to  give 
his  numerous  family  of  sons  and  daughters  the  best  educa- 
tion the  country  could  furnish. 

1804. — After  the  transfer  of  the  country  to  the  United 
States,  and  the  establishment  of  the  first  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions  in  St.  Louis,  in  December,  1804,  Mr.  Gratiot  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Harrison,  the  first  presiding  jus- 
tice of  that  Court,  his  two  associates  being  Augustus  Chou- 
teau and  David  Delaunay,  which  position  he  filled  for  three 
years  1805,  1806,  and  1807,  after  this  he  was  appointed  a 
justice  of  the  peace. 

1809. — At  the  incorporation  of  the  "Town  of  St. 
Louis,"  he  was  elected  a  trustee,  and  filled  the  oflSce  of 
chairman  of  the  board  for  the  years  1811,  1812,  and 
1813 — this  was  his  last  public  office. 

On  the  25th  June,  1781,  Mr.  Gratiot  was  united  in  mar- 


490  ANNALS  OP  8T.  LOUIS. 

riiigo  to  Mias  Victoire  the  eldest  duugbtor  of  Mudatno 
Thcreso  Bourgeois  Chouteau. 

They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom, 
four  son.s  and  five  daughters  grow  to  maturity,  married  and 
left  families. 

Mr.  Chas.  Gratiot  died  of  paralynis  on  April  20,  1817,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  widow  survived  him  eight 
years  and  died  June  15,  1825,  at  the  same  age  of  sixty- 
five  years. 

Their  children  were  :  — 

1.  Julie,  horn  July  24,  1782;  married  to  John  P.  Ca- 
banne,  from  France,  April  8,  1799. 

2.  Victoire,  born  March  25,  1785,  married  to  Sylvostre 
Labbadie,  August  16,  1806. 

3.  Charles,  born  Angu^it  29,  1786,  married  to  Ann 
Belin,  Philadelphia,  April  22,  1819. 

4.  Marie  Tlierese,  born  Feliruary  20,  1788,  married  to 
John  Nicholas  Macklot  from  France,  August  16,  1806. 

5.  Henry,  born  April  25,  1789,  married  to  Su.san  Hemp- 
stead, Connecticut,  February,  1813. 

6.  Emily  Anne,  born  October  5,  1793,  married  to  Peter 
Chouteau,  Jr.,  June  15,  1813. 

7.  Louise  Isabella,  born  October  15,  1796,  married  to 
Jules  Demun,  St.  Dom,  from  May  31,  1812. 

8.  Marie  Brigitte  born  Jaimary  6,  1798,  died  September 
7,  1803 ;  aet.  5  years,  8  months. 

9.  John  Pierre,  born  February  19,  1799,  married  to 
Marie  Antoinette  Adele  Perdreauville  from  Paris,  Nov.  18, 
1819. 

10.  Paul  Benjamin,  born  March  13,  1800,  married  to 
Virginia  Billon,  from  Philadelphia,  June  6,  1825,  and  three 
infants,  died  young  in  1801,  1803,  1804. 


APPENDIX.  491 


PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS   OF    CHARLES   OP.ATIOT,   8R. 

Ho  was  u  nmn  of  more  than  ordinary  capacity  and  ability, 
and  from  his  early  biiainess  education  had  grown  to  man- 
hood with  the  idea  that  the  chief  aim  of  man  wa8,  to  learn 
how  to  keep  hooks  properly,  and  to  acquire  wealth.  In 
his  8cliool-boy  days  at  homo  with  his  parents,  and  his  youth 
and  early  manhood  with  his  uncles  in  London  and  Canada, 
ho  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any  more  than  ordinarily 
active  in  the  pursuit  of  business  knowledge,  and  while  with 
his  Montreal  uncle  Bernard,  a  per'od  of  some  five  years, 
and  with  whom  ho  does  not  appear  to  have  got  along  very 
agreeably,  his  uncle  frequently  chiding  him  —  he  seems 
from  the  tenor  of  his  letters  to  his  father  at  home,  to  be 
somewhat  under  the  influence  of  depressed  spirits,  fre- 
quently lamenting  his  unfortunate  condition,  doubtless  from 
home-sickness.  But  after  leaving  the  service  of  this  Mon- 
treal uncle,  and  starting  out  for  himself,  he  soon  displayed 
great  energy  and  perseverance  in  his  pursuit  of  wealth, 
which  continued  with  him  through  life. 

A  prominent  trait  in  his  character  was  his  disposition  for 
controversial  argument ;  nature  had  cut  him  out  for  the 
legal  profession,  he  was  a  special  pleader,  and  possessed 
the  faculty  of  presenting  his  case  so  favorably  that  he  neve? 
failed  to  carry  his  point,  us  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  in 
every  instance  in  which  we  find  him  as  a  litigant,  he  came 
off  winner  of  his  case,  his  written  arguments  being  always 
prepared  by  himself,  possessing  the  advantages  of  familiar- 
ity with  both  the  French  and  English  languages. 

Nothing  can  better  furnish  an  insight  into  the  disposition 
and  character  of  any  one  whom  we  never  personally  knew, 
than  a  careful  perusal  of  his  letters;  more  especially  of 
those  written  to  his  kinsmen  and  personal  friends,  when 
policy  and  reserve  are  usually  cast  aside,  and  a  man  is  apt 


492  ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 

to  lay  open  his  inmost  thoughts  with  the  candor  and  frank-* 
ness  inherent  in  his  nature,  and  from  these  we  are  enabled, 
not  only  to  correctly  estimate  his  mental  calibre,  but  to 
arrive  in  a  great  measure  at  a  correct  appreciation  of  the 
predominant  traits  in  his  temper  and  disposition. 

It  is  from  a  careful  study  of  his  letters  solely,  that  I  have 
formed  my  estimate  of  Charles  Gratiot,  Sr.,  a  man  I  never 
knew,  he  being  laid  in  his  grave  some  eighteen  months  pre- 
viously to  my  arrival  in  the  place. 

Fred.  L.  Billon. 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Adams,  Calvin 401 

Alvarez,  E. 

.  447 

Arsenal  Tract 

.  408 

Aubry,  Captain,  takes 

command  . 

.     23 

Barada,  A.  . 

.  449 

Barada,  Louis 

.  450 

Barelas,  Jos.,  inquiry 

into  conduct  of 

.     56 

Acquittal  of 

.     57 

Barrousel,  F. 

.  473 

Barjas,  Dominic  . 

.   135 

Beaugenou,  N.,  Sr. 

.  415 

Beaugenou,  N.,  Jr. 

.  416 

Becquet,  John  B. 

427,  430 

Bellisime,  A. 

.  457 

Benoit,  F.  M.,Sr. 

.  472 

Bent  Place . 

.  406 

Beynal,  Dr.  A.     . 

.  392 

Biggs,  John 

.  403 

Bissette,  Win. 

.  439 

Bissonet,  Francis 

.  427 

Bissonct,  Louis    . 

.  427 

Blouin,  Daniel     . 

.     40 

Bouise,  A.  V.,  Sr. 

.  454 

Boly,  John,  Sr.    . 

.  400 

Brazeau,  Jos.,  Sr., 

.  454 

Buet,  Rene  . 

.  439 

Cabanne,  John  P. 

.   473 

Cahokia 

.     45 

Camp  Family 

.    161 

(493) 


494 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


Camp,  Mrs.  Ann ..... 

Cartabona,  De  Don  S.  F. ,  acting  governor 
Cerre,  Gabriel      ..... 

Cession  from  France  to  Spain.     Remarlis  on 
Chancellier,  Jos.  ..... 

Chancellier,  Louis       .... 

Charleville,  Jos.   ..... 

Charleville,  Mme.  F.  B. 

Ciiarleville,  Joseph       .... 

Chauvin       ...... 

Cliouteau,  Auguste      .... 

Ciiouteau,  Mrs 

Chouteau,  Marie  Therese  Bourgeois,  . 
Chouteau  vs.  Lisa  .... 
Chronology,  Introductory    . 

Clark,  G.  R.  Col 

Conde,  Dr.  A.  A. 

Coons,  John 

Cruzat,  Francis,  governor    . 

Administration 

Second  term  .... 
D'Abadie,  death  of  ...  . 
Debruisseau,  J.  L.  D'l.,  granted  exclusive  privileg 

Death  of  his  son 
DeLabeaume,  L.  A.  T. 
Delassus,  Col.  C.  D.,  succeeds  Gov.  Trudeau 

Official  notes  to  .         .         . 

Military  orders  of      .         . 

Names  of  subordinates 

Ancestors  of      . 

Account  of  Homestead 

P.  C.  D 

(De  St.  Vrain)  .... 
DeLeyba,  Don  F. ,  administration  of     . 

Will  of 

Interment  of  . 
Denoyer,  J.  M.    . 


e  to  trade 


FAOK 

.  231 
.  206 
.  452 
.  22 
.  421 
.  421 
.  458 
.  460 
.  460 
.  458 
.  146 
,  243 
.  412 
.  334 
1-15 
,  142 
,  389 
,  399 
,  129 
,  131 
.  207 
.  23 
.  30 
.  31 
.  467 
,  295 
316 
.  319 
,  364 
,  385 
.  405 
.  469 
.  470 
.  142 
,  203 
.  205 
.  426 


INDEX. 


495 


FAOK 

Denoyer,  Francis 428 

DeTreget,  CD 

.  442 

DeVolsay,  P.  F 

.  435 

Didier,  John  P.    . 

.  465 

Dodier,  G.,  Sr.    . 

.  429 

Dubreuil,  L.  C.   . 

262,  434 

Dubreuil,  Louis  . 

.  410 

Ducliouquette  Place     . 

.  404 

Duciiouquette  &  Laray 

.   437 

Duralde,  M.  M.  . 

.  447 

Early  agreement  . 

.     63 

Flood  of  1784,  account  of 

.  225 

Florisant  Village 

.  273 

Fort  Chartres,  first  arrivals  from 

.     24 

Debruisseau  first  judge 

.     23 

And  Mme.  St.  Ange  . 

.     42 

Fremon,  A.  C.      . 

.  471 

French  merchants,  names  of  early 

.     75 

Fur  traders  and  merchants  . 

.   132 

Gamache,  John  B 

.  422 

Gates,  John         .... 

.  400 

Gibkins,  Dr.  B 

.  392 

Gratiot,  Chas.,  Sr.       . 

.   481 

Guion,  A.,  Jr 

.  432 

Heberts,  The        ...         . 

.   431 

Henrion,  Francis  and  Charles 

.  416 

Ilonore,  L.  Tesson,  Sr.         .         .         . 

.   442 

Hortiz,  Jos.  A 

.  446 

Indians,  Attack  on  St.  Louis  May  26, 

1780 

, 

.   191 

List  of  killed     . 

.   199 

Kcer  and  family  killed  by 

.  248 

The  Mascou 

.   373 

Inventory,  Early 

.     33 

Kaskaskia    ..... 

.     44 

Kiersereau,  G.,  Sr. 

.   423 

Labbadie,  Sylvester 

. 

.   260 

496 


ANNALS  OP  ST.  LOUIS. 


Labuaciere,  Jos. ,  Acting  Secretary 

Biography  of     . 
Laclede  and  Companions 

Arrival  at  St.  Louis 

Considered  legal  proprietor 

Verbal  grants  by 

Capture  trading  boat 

Prison  constructed  by 

Supposed  wealth 

Death  of    . 

Aug.  Chouteau  administers  estate 

Sale  of  his  house 
Laclede,  Pierre    . 
Lamy,  Michael     . 
Leduc,  M.  P.       . 
Leroy,  Julien 
Lewis,  M.,  Capt. 
Livre   Terriens    . 
Loise,  A.,  Sr. 
Loisel,  R.     . 
Louisiana  Treaty 

Purchase  . 

Documents  regarding  transfer 

Transfer  of 
Mainville,  Jos. 
Manumission,  The  first 
Marechal,  N.,  Sr. 
Marcheteau  dit  Denoyer 
Marcheteau,  Louis 
Marie,  P.  A. 
Martigny  Bros.    . 
Maxent,  Laclede  &  Co. 
Mercier,  Dr.  C.    . 
Michan,  J.,  Sr.    . 
Michel,  Jos.  (dit  Taillon) 
Mine  a  Breton 
Mullanphy,  John 


PAOE 

25 

29 

17 

18 

25 

36 

50 

124 

143 

145 

147 

149 

411 

438 

475 

424 

384 

30 

417 

465 

339 

349 

351 

359 

420 

39 

429 

417 

417 

433 

425 

50 

392 

479 

414 

377 

409 


INDEX. 


4:91 


rAOE 

New  Madrid,  Early  history            ..... 

.  263 

New  Orleans,  Ordinances  of          ..... 

275 

Ortes,  John  B.     .......         . 

US 

Papin,  Jos. ,  Sr 

448 

Papin,  Jos.  M 

448 

Peltier,  Isidor      ........ 

41 

Pepin,  J.  M 

433 

Perez,  Emanuel,  administration    ..... 

246 

Peyroux,  ]\Iine.,  Will  of 

247 

Philibert,  Jos.,  Sr 

444 

Physicians,  Early  list  of 

389 

97 

Piernas,  Capt.  Pedro   ......        80, 

66 

129 

Pierre,  A.  N.        . 

480 

Pitman,  Capt.       ........ 

46 

453 

Prairie  du  Rocher         ....... 

45 

466 

Provenchere,  Pierre,  Sr 

480 

402 

Ride,  Louis,  Sr. 

418 

Rios,  Francisco,  Capt.,  arrives  at  St.  Louis 

52 

Erects  "  Fort  Prince  Charles  " 

53 

List  of  officers  and  soldiers        .... 

54 

Departure 

65 

419 

Robidou,  Jos.,  Sr 

444 

Rohrcr,  David      ........ 

402 

Routicr,  CI  as 

427 

Rutgers,  A.          ........ 

481 

St.  Ange,  Capt.,  Acting   Governor,  delivers    possession 

tc 

Capt.  Sterling 

24 

Biography  of      ......         . 

27 

Will  of 

125 

Death  of 

128 

St.  Cir  Ilyacinthe,  Sr 

456 

Ste  Genevieve 

41,  258 

32 

498 


ANN  ALB  OF  ST,  LOUIS. 


PAGE 

St.  Louis,  families  arrive  from  Ste.  Genevieve  and  New  Orleans    20 

Called  "  Laclede's  Village  " 22 

Government  in  operation  April,  1766 

.       28 

First  documfciits  recorded 

.     32 

Public  property  inventory 

.     47 

Military  matters 

.     66 

Number  of  houses  in  1770 

.     75 

Names  of  the  early  priests 

.     76 

First  parish  register  . 

.     79 

Early  houses 

.     81 

Early  furniture 

.     82 

Water  supply     . 

.     83 

Fuel  and  agriculture 

.     84 

Amusements 

.     86 

Public  sales 

.     87 

Marriage  contracts     . 

.     88 

Commons  and  common  fields 

.     91 

Naming  of          .         .         . 

.     93 

Dachurut  and  Diard's  agreemen 

t 

.   100 

Emancipation  by  Villars     . 

.   102 

Detailly's  inventory 

.  107 

First  auction  sale 

.   108 

Delage'sWill     , 

.   113 

Masse  and  Valle  lawsuit 

.   136 

Father  de  Limpach  arrives 

.   138 

Denoyer  vs.  Tinon     . 

.   151 

Petit  vs.  Menard 

.   154 

Maha's  trial       .... 

.   156 

Complaint  of  Mrs.  Montardy     . 

.   173 

Conspiracy  of  Robidou 

.   174 

Gratiot  vs.  Sanguinet 

.  177 

La  Fleur  et  al.  vs.  Gratiot. 

.  209 

Village  laws 

.  216 

Suit  vs.  Vachard 

.  227 

Killing  of  Batiste 

.  233 

Separation  of  Barrere  and  wife 

.  251 

Lapiere  absconds 

.  253 

INDEX. 


499 


FAOE 

St.  Louis,  Trudeau's  gift  to  sons  of  John  B.  Trudeau 

.  279 

Murder  of  House 

.  298 

Edwards  vs.  Kishler           .... 

.  299 

Action  vs.  Moodey 

.  301 

Colgin  vs.  Lyons 

.  303 

Bell  vs.  Colgin 

,  305 

Sarpy  vs.  Saffray 

.  311 

Inquests 

312,  313 

Salle,  Jean    .         .                

.  426 

Saugrain,  A.  F.,  Dr 

.  476 

Sanguinet,  Chas.,  Sr. 

.  450 

Sarpy,  Cbas.  and  wife 

.  441 

Soulard,  A.  P 

.  471 

Place         

.  403 

Spain,  the  King's  scheme  to  replenish  his  treasury 

289-294 

Spanish  domination 

.     97 

Sterling,  Capt.,  takes  possession 

.     24 

Report  of 

.     43 

Stoddard,  Amos,  letter  to  Secretary  of  War 

.  371 

Reply  to  Delassus      ..... 

.  379 

Biography  of 

.  388 

Sullivan,  W  illiam^        ...... 

Tison,  Albert    ^A'^^.e^fn^     .... 

.  401 

.  4G9 

Trille,  Michael,  trial  of 

55-56 

Trudeau,  Don  Zenow,  administration  of       .         .         . 

.  257 

Trudeau,  John  B 

.  449 

Ulloa,  Count        ....... 

.     23 

Vachard,  dit  Hardoise 

.  453 

Valleau,  Dr.  John  B.,  arrival  in  St.  Louis     . 

.     58 

Death  of 

.     59 

Will  of 

60-62 

Biography          

.  391 

Vasquez,  B.,  Sr. 

.  445 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 


(500) 


portkait  of  f.  l.  billon, 

Portrait  of  Madame  Chouteau. 

St.  Louis  in  1770. 

Plat  of  St.  Louis  in  1770. 

Beaugenou  House,  1765. 

Chouteau  Mansion. 

Church  and  Parish  Residence. 

Government  House,  1765. 

Fort  on  the  Hill,  1794. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBBRS. 


Alexander,  Bash.  W. 

Alkxandkr,  M.  W. 

Alkxian  Brothers, 

Allen,  Gerard  B. 

Allen,  N.  D. 

Alleyne,  J.  S.  B.  —  M.  D. 

Aloe,  A.  S. 

Anderson,  Harry,  New  York, 

Anderson,  Mus.Jno.  J.,  New  York, 

Anderson,  Wm.  B.,  Chicago, 

Anheuser-Busch  Brewery  Co., 

Armstrong,  Col.  D.  H.,  2  copies 

Aufderheide,  F.  W. 

Babcock,  Liecester 

Bacon,  Frederick  H. 

Bain,  Geohgk 

Balmer,  Charles 

Bamberger,  Philip  A. 

Barada,  Francis  X. 

Bardkk,  S.  W 

Barclay,  D  ^rt 

Barclay,  Ho.      >.  W. 

Barlow,  Stephen  D. 

Barnard,  Geo.  D. 

Barnes,  Robert  A.,  P  copies 

Bahnett,  Geo.  I. 

Barney,  Chas.  E, 

Baukr,  Alfrkd  G. 

Bauman,  L.,  Jewelry  Co.,  2  copies 

Beauvais,  F.  a. 

Bkll,  Leverett 

Benoist,  Conde  L.,  2  copies 

Benoist,  Eugene  H. 

Benoist,  Theodokb 

Benoist,  Sanguinet 

Bent,  Silas 


Bernays,  a.  le  — M.  D. 
Bkrthold,  Augustus 
Bkrthold,  Bartholomew 
Bkrthold,  Pierre  A. 
Bieuingek,  Frkd'k  W, 
Bland,  John  H. 
Blank,  Alois 
Blair,  Frank  P. 
Blattneh, Jacob 
Bliss,  Wm.  W. 
Block,  Jno.  C.  H.  D. 
Blossom,  H.  M. 
Blythe,  James  E. 
BoBB,  Charles 
BoECK,  Adam 

BOECKLER,  A. 
BOKDICKER,  L. 

BoFiNOER,  Jno.  N. 
Boland,  John  L. 
Boyle,  Wilbur  F. 
Brady,  V.  Rkv'd  Philip  P. 
Branch,  Joseph  W. 
Brazeau,  Augustus  G. 
Bueckenridge,  Hon.  S.  M. 
Bredell,  Edward 
Broadhead,  Hon.  James  0. 
Brookmeir,  Ja.mes  H. 
Bruenemann,  Ernst 
Bull,  Jno.  C. 
Buck,  Myron  M. 
Burr,  Wm.  B. 
Bush,  Isidor 
3yrne,  John 

Cabann£,  J.  Shepard  —  M.  D.,  3 

copies 
Cabann£,  Jos.  C. 

(501) 


502 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS, 


CAHANNfi,  Saiu'Y  C. 

Cady,  Hon.  Chas,  F. 

Cami'hkli,,  Hob't  a.  (No.  1), 

Cami'BKI.l,  Kon'T  A.  (No.  2), 

Campbell,  VV.  D. 

Capkn,  Gko.  1). 

Caki'Kntkk,  Jah.  M. 

Carii,  Alfuki) 

Cakb,  CHARLKd  Bent 

Carr,  .Iamks 

Cauu,  Lucikn,  Carabrldi?c,  Mass. 

CARRifeRK,  Mrs.  C. 

Cati.in,  Danikl 

Catlis,  Epiikaim 

Ck.ntral  Typk  Foundry 

Chadbournk,  G.  W. 

Chapman, Joskph  G. 

Cuarlot,  C.  S. 

Chase,  Edward 

Chouteau,  Chas.  P.,  5  copies 

Chouteau,  J.  Oilman 

Christian  Brothers,  3  copies 

Church,  Alonzo  C. 

Claiborne,  Jas.  R. 

Clauk,  Henry  L. 

Clark,  Hinman  H. 

Clark, Jefferson  K. 

Clark,  Wm.  G. 

Clemens,  B.  M. 

Clemens,  Jere  \V. 

Clendenin,  Wm.  A. 

Clover,  Hon.  H.  A. 

Cobb,  Seth  W. 

CoLBURN,  Fred.  M. 

Cole,  Hon.  Nathan 

Collins,  L.  E. 

Collins,  Martin 

COMPTON,  Rich'd  J. 

Comstock,  T.  G.  — M.  D. 

Copp,  Samuel 

Cornet,  Francis 

CosTE,  Felix 

CouziNS,  Jno.  E.  D. 

Cox,  Mrs.  Chas.  A. 

Crawford,  David 


Crunden,  F.  M. 
Cruttknden,  U.  W. 

Daen/.er,  Carl 
Davim  and  Davis 
Davis,  John  T. 
Delakield,  Wallace 
Delany,  John  O'Fallon 

DeLASSUS,  AUdUSTUS 

Deslo(.k,  Jules 

DeYong,  a. 

Dillon,  John  A 

Dimmock,  Mrs.  Thomas,  2  copies 

DiTTMANN,  George  F. 

Dodd,  S.  M. 

DODSWORTH,  KEV'D  C. 
DOERR,  P.  J. 

Donaldson,  Andrew 
Donaldson,  John  W. 
Donaldson,  Wm.  R. 
Donavan,  Frank  J. 
Dowlino,  Richard 
Downing,  Edwin 
Drake,  Geo.  S. 
Drew,  Francis  A. 
Drummond,  J.  T. 
DuESTRow,  Louis 
Durkee,  Dwight 
Dyer,  John  N.,  2  copies 
Dyer,  Trusten  P. 

Easton,  Alton  R. 

Edgar,  T.  B. 

Edwards,  Albert  Q. 

Ehlermann,  Chas. 

Eisenhardt,  Herman 

Eliot,  Rev'd  W.m.  G. 

Engelmann,  Geo.  S.  — M.  D. 

Erskine,  Greene 

Essex,  James  C. 

Essex,  Wm.  T. 

Ewald,  Philip  —  M.  D. 

Ewing,  Augustus  B.  "> 

Faerber,  Rev'd.  Wm. 
Faris,  Charles  A.,  2  copies 


LIST  OF  SUBSC1UBEH8. 


503 


FAUirtii,  Kdwauu  T. 
Fakmkr,  Jamk8  B. 
Faukak,  Jam km  8, 
Faukklly,  Thoh,  F. 
Fatii,  Conkau 
Faust,  Anthony 
Fkroltson,  1).  K. 
FiLLKV,  GiLKa  F. 
FiNNKY,  !}KUNAia) 

F188K,  John  II. 
FiTZOKKAi.D,  Miss  M. 
Flai),  Coi..  IIknky 
F-.KTCHKR,  Hon.  Tiios.  C 

FOSTKK,  BkX.I.   R. 

Fox,  Patrick 
FoY,  Mrs.  P.  L. 
Francis,  Hon.  I).  R. 
Franklin,  Joski'h 
Frost,  Gkn'l.  D.  M. 
Fruin,  Jkukmiah 
Fusz,  Louis 

Galks,  Skhs.mund,  J. 

Gantt,  Tiios.  T. 

Gardnkr,  a.  M. 

Garkschk,  a.  J.  P. 

Garland,  Nathan 

Garrison,  Danl.  R. 

Gaylord,  Saml.  a. 

Gehner,  Augustus 

Gibson,  Charles,  2  copies 

Gibson,  James  H. 

Gilfillan,  John  A. 

GiLKESON,  John  W.,  2  copies 

Gill,  George  H. 

GiLMORE,  Col.  P.  8.,  New  York 

Glasgow,  Edward  J. 

Glasgow,  \Vm.  Jr. 

goddard,  e. 

goode,  robt.  w. 

GooDiN,  John 

GoRK,  Stephen  A. 

Gould,  David  B, 

Grand  Lodge  Mo.,  A.  F.  and  A.M. 

Gratiot,  Adolpii 


Giutiot,  Charles  B.  —  .M.  I). 
Gratiot,  Paul  B. 
Guav,  Melvin  L. 
Greeley,  Carlos  S. 
Grrrn,  Charles 
Gregory,  G.  H.  — M.  P. 
GiiETHEit,  John 
(iRISHOM,  1).  M. 
GuGERTY,  Thomas 
GuiHoR,  Henri 

Haarstick,  Henry  C. 

Haeuslkr,  Herman  A. 

ILvRNEY,  John  M. 

Harrington,  Henry  F. 

Harris,  James  A. 

Hart,  Oliver  A. 

Hauck's,  Brothers  —  M.  D. 

Hayward,  G.  a. 

Helkenstein,  John  P. 

Hennessy,  Rkv'd  John  J. 

Henry,  Ri;v'd  James 

Hill,  Brittox  A. 

Hirschherg,  F.  D. 

HiRsciiiiERG,  Louis  C. 

Hitchcock,  Henry 

hoblit/elle,  c.  l. 

HoGAN,  Mrs.  John 

HoGAN,  Mrs.  Lizzie  W.,  Cnliforula 

Homes,  Charles  R. 

Homes,  Fred'k  B.,  2  copies 

Hosi'Es,  Richard 

Hough,  Henry  W. 

Hough,  Warwick 

Houser,  D.  M. 

How,  James  F. 

Howard,  Francis  A. 

Hubbard,  K.  M. 

Humphrey,  F.  H. 

HuRLHURT,  Geo.  F.  — .M.  D. 

Hyde,  William 

Irwin,  Charles  W. 
Isaacs,  J.  L. 
Ittner,  Anthony 


504 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


JaCCAIID,    RtJOKVR 

Jacouh,  Aur'm  S. 
Jkwett,  Dan'i.  T. 
Johnson,  Chas.  1'. 
Johnson,  John  B.  —  M.  I). 
Jonah,  Ukv'h  J,  F. 
JONIM,  Wm.  C. 

Karst,  Kmii.k 

Karst,  Kuoknk 

Kaukkman,  J.  \V. 

Kkkvil,  Wm.  II. 

Kkhk,  Kdwahd  C. 

Kkii.tv,  Rkv'i)  F.  M. 

KKI8KR,  John  P. 

Kkllev,    Mrs.  A.    M.,   Stamford, 

Connt. 
Kellogo  Newspaper  Co. 
Krmpland,  Arthur 
Kknnahi),  Ham'i,  L. 
Kenrick,  M.  Rev'd  1'etkr  R. 
Kershaw,  J.  M. 
KiMBAI.L,  Bknj. 
Klein,  Jacoh 
Knapp,  Andrew  J. 
Knapp,  Col.  John 
Knapp,  Thos.  M. 
koehler,  c. 
Krieckhaus,  AuaiTSTUS 
Krum,  Chkster  H. 

Lackland,  Rufus  J. 

Ladd,  John  A. 

Lammert,  Martin 

LaMotte,  j.  Soulari) 

Lancaster,  R.  J. 

Lane,  Francis  A. 

Leeds,  Ellis  N. 

Leffingwell,  Hiram  W. 

Leighton,  Col.  Geo.  E.,  2  copie.", 

Lemp,  Wm.  j. 

Leonard,  Nicholas 

Lewis,  Hon.  E.  A. 

Lewis,  John 

Lewis,  Martrom  D. 


Liohtnkr,  John  H. 
LiNDLEV,  Hon.  Jah.  J. 

LiPPMAN,  MOHRH  J. 

LoDOE,  Joseph  (i. 

LOUDERMAN,  JOHN  H.,  2  COplOS 

LuiiKE,  Hon.  Geo.  W. 
Lucas,  John  B.  C. 
Lucas,  Roht.  J. 
Ludlow,  R.  C. 
LuEDEKiNo,  Roht.  —  M.  D. 
LuNOSTKAss  Company, 
LuvTiKs,  H.  C.  G. 
Lynch,  Geo.  N. 

McCabe,  Fran's.  X. 

McCluney,  j,  H. 

McCoy,  John  T. 

McDonald,  Ai.ex'r. 

McKiNLEY,  Andrew 

McKiMsocK,  Thos. 

McRee,  Wm.  T. 

Madill,  Hon.  Geo.  A. 

Mafkitt,  Chas.  C. 

Mafkitt,  p.  Chouteau 

Maffitt,  W.m.  C. 

Maguire,  John 

Mallinckrodt,  Edw'd 

Martin,  Alex. 

Martin,  John  G. 

Mastbrook,  Ale.\. 

Mauntel,  John  G. 

Mayo,  Wm.  H. 

Mead,  Edward  H. 

Mechin,  Augs.  V.  R. 

Meier,  Adolpiius 

Meikr,  E.  F.  VV. 

Meyer,  C.  F.  G. 

Meyer,  Rev'd  R.  J. 

Meyerson,  Mrs.  L.  G. 

Mincke,  Geo.  H. 

Missouri  Historical  Society, 

Missouri  Lodge,  No.  1,  of  A.  F. 

and  A.  M. 
Moll,  Adolph 
Morrison,  J.  L.  Don 


LIST  OF  SUBSUUlbERa. 


505 


MoaKB,  O.  A.  — M.  D. 
Mutt,  Fkkd'k  W. 

Naoki.,  Charles 

Nahsk,  AirousT 

Nrun, John 

Nkun,  riiii.ip 

Nkwman,  S(k;iutk8,  2  copies 

Nicholson,  Pktkr 

NiDKLKT,  JaMKH  C.  —  M.  I). 

Norwood,  Jos.   G.  — M.  Ih,  Col- 

umblii.  Mo. 
NUUKNT,  Danl.  C. 

O'Brikn,  John 
O'Fallon,  John  J. 
O'Nkil,  Fuank  K. 
O'Ukilly,  I'H.iJi'  S.  — M.  D. 
Ohkah,  EI'HRAIM  O. 
OKTHWEIN  —  UKOTHRR8 
0VKR.>iTOLy.,  IIknuy 

Paddock,  Orvii.lk 

Pagk,  J.  C  — M.  1). 

PA(5K,  Wm.  M. 

Fallen,  Mrs,  A.  E. 

Papin,  ThKOI'HILK. 

Pai'IN,  Timothy  —  M.  D. 

Parker,  Geo.  \V. 

Parsons,  Charles 

Patterson,  Rout.  D. 

Peck,  Chas.  H. 

Percy,  J.  T. 

Pettus,  Wm.  H.  H. 

Peugnet,  Ernst 

Pkugnet,  Mrs.  V.  S.,  Paris,  France 

Pkyinghaus,  Robert 

Phelan,  Rev'd  U.  S. 

Philibert,  Wm.  B,,  2  copies 

PicoT,  Louis  D. 

Pierce,  N.  G. 

Pitzman,  Julius 

Polkowski,  E.  S. 

Powell,  R.  W, 

Power,  Rev'd  G.  D. 


Pratiirr,  Col.  John  O. 

PRATTE,       OeN'L      BRRNAHD,       SR., 

JoneNbuTK 
Prrktoriuh,  Emil 
Price,  Crlhuh 
Priest,  John  O. 
pri.m.vi,  huheiit 
Phovenchrrk,  p.  Wm. 
PuLLis,  Augustus 
PULLIB,  Thos.  R. 

Randall,  John  F. 
Ranken,  David 
Rankkn,  Hugh  L. 
Rassieur,  Leo 
Reustock,  Charles 
Rrnhhaw,  Morrison 
Rbnshaw,  Wu.liam 
Rex,  John 

Reybuiun,  Mrs.  Julia  V. 
Richardson, Jack  P. 
RiciiEsoN,  Thus. 
R'lnniNs,  K.  C. 

ROBIDOUX,  ClIAH.  E. 

RoEMER,  Bernard  —  M.  D. 
Rogers,  Henry  L. 
Roi.vMEYER,  Joseph 
RoMBAUER,  Hon.  Rod'k  E. 
Roos,  Leonard 
RowsE,  E.  S. 
Russell,  Chas.  S. 
Ruthereurd,  Thos.  S,,  2  copies 
Ryan,  M   Rev'd  P.  J. 

Sampson,  Clarke  H. 
Samuel,  Webster  M. 
Sander,  Enno 
Sander,  M.  K. 
Sauohain,  Frederick 
Saunders,  V.  O. 
Scanlan,  Mrs.  Mary  F. 
Sciiad£,  Frederick  —  M.  D. 
ScHAEKER  Duos,  and  Powell, 
ScHKRpfi,  John  F. 
Schmieding,  Frederick 
SciiNAiDER,  Joseph  M. 


506 


ANNALS  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


SCHULKNBKUO,  OtTO  G. 

Scott,  Rohkut  K. 
Skllkks,  John  M.,  2  copies 
Sklls,  Milks 
Hkssinuhaum,  Tiikodouk 

SlCXTON,   UlCMtY  C. 

SiiAri-Kitiii,  A.  V. 
SiiAri.inoii,  Fkank 

SllATTINGKK,  Al>AM 

Shaw,  IIknuy 
SlIICKl.K,  Frkdk.uick 
Simmons,  C.  C. 
Simmons,  Ed.  C. 
Simmons,  Samukl 
Simon,  IIknuy  T. 
Skinkku,  Thomas 
Skinkku,  T.  K. 
Skkainka,  Wii.r.iAM 
Smith,  Andukw  J. 
Smith,  Rev'd  Coxs'k  P. 
Smith,  Pkroy  F. 
Smithkrs,  John  A. 

Sl'AUNIIOUST,  HkNKY  J. 

Spkcht,  Joskph,  2  copies 

Sl'KCK,  ClIARLKS 
SONNKSOHKIN,  KKV'D  S.  ll. 

SouLARD,  Mrs.  II'y  G. 

St.  Louis  Stamping  Co.,  2  coplt-s 

Steinberg,  Mrs.  M.  J. 

Stevens,  Chas.  U.  —  M.  I). 

Stevenson,  Gen'l  Jno.  D. 

Stewart,  A.  W. 

Sticknky,  Benjamin 

Stikel,  Chas.  G. 

Stiles,  Henry  A.,  Philaclolphla. 

Stippich,  Joseph 

Stouuart,  T.  A. 

Stu.mpk,  Jacob 

Sutton,  Henry  L. 

Tallon,  Uev'i)  p.  W. 
Tamm,  Jacob 
Tansey,  Rob't  p. 
Taussig,  Charles 
Taussig,  John  J. 


Teichmann,  Chas.  II. 
Tesson,  Ki>wari>  M. 
Thomas,  \Vm.  L. 
TH0MP8t)N,  Hon.  S.  D. 
Thomson,  \Vm.  II. 
Thonssen,  G.  H. 
Tiemkyer,  John  C. 
TiERNAN,  Jajies,  2  coples 
TiERNAN,  Jos.  H.,  3  copies 

TiTTMAN,  ElMJENE  C. 

Toni),  Charles 

TOENHKELDT,   J. 

Tt)Mi'KiNs,  Cornelius 
Tracy,  Dan'l  O'C'onnell 
Treat,  Samuel 
Tripi.ett,  John  R.  , 

Troklicih',  J.  H. 
Tunstall,  R.  J. 
Turner,  Charles  H. 
Turner,  John  W. 
Turner,  J,  Lucas 

Valljc,  Mrs.  Aglae 

Van  Stuuoikoui),  Henry — M,  1). 

Vasqukz,  .Vntoine  B. 

ViNciL,  John  I). 

VoGEL,  Charles  F.,  10  copies 

Von  Piiul,  Be.njamin 

WaCIITER,   I'^MILE 

Wagner,  VVm.  E. 

Wagoner,  Henry  H. 

Wahl,  .Ioiin 

Wainwright,  Mrs.  C.  D. 

Waldauer,  Auguste 

Wallis,  a.  II. 

Walsh,  Julius  S. 

Walsh,  Rev'd  W.vi. 

Wamsganz,  John 

Waterhouse,  Silvester 

Waters,  W.  H. 

Waterworth,  Jas.  a. 

Wash,  Milton  II. 

Washburne,  Mrs.  A.  G.,  Clilcago 

Wehrhkim,  a.  G. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCItlBEKS. 


507 


Weioei,,  Eitoknk  F. 
Wkiskk,  Martin 
Wki.ls,  Ror.LA 
Wkht,  Washington 
Wkssklek,  F,  W.  —  M.  D. 
WiiKRHY,  Miss  Mauoahkt 
WicKiiAM,  IIo.v.  John 
WiKHusii,  Hknhy 

WlOOANS,  J.  F. 

Williams,  Hknuy  W. 
WiNFtKLMKiion,  C,  Brewery 
WiNTHUoi',  John   S.  Tallahassee, 
Florida 


Witt,  Thomas  D. 
WoKUNKK,  Hon.  J.  Q. 
Wolff,  Marcus  A. 

Wl'LI'lNG,  ClIAKLKS 


Xaui'i,  El).  J. 

Yeatman,  James  E. 
Young,  John 

Zeiglku,  Rkv'i)  Charles 


